Zimbabwe: dead deadline

An important deadline will pass unmet and unmarked on Saturday.

According to the electoral framework in Zimbabwe, a run-off vote in the presidential race is due within three weeks of the first round -- which was on March 29 -- if no party receives more than 50% of the vote.  However, the official results of the first round of voting had yet to be announced as we went to press. 

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has claimed victory with 50.3%.  Using results posted outside polling stations, observers have projected that no candidate reached 50%. The ruling ZANU-PF party has said it will support President Robert Mugabe in the event run-off.

There is now serious pressure on the electoral commission as a result of the most significant challenge to Mugabe's position since he took office in 1980.  The MDC has come out ahead in the parliamentary elections, beating ZANU-PF into second place.  Despite this setback, the ruling party retains control over the state's institutions and security apparatus, which will ward off an opposition challenge in the event of a second round. 

The courts have rejected an MDC petition to force the release of the results.  Moreover, the electoral commission is to conduct a recount of results from 23 constituencies -- enough to erase the MDC's parliamentary victory and, opposition supporters allege, perhaps even enough to secure Mugabe a first round victory when the results are finally announced.