Vote counting for Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008

This article gives details about the vote counting system for the 2008 Zimbabwe presidential election

In its preliminary report on March 30, the SADC observer mission gave the election a positive assessment, although it noted some concerns. Jose Marcos Barrica, the head of the mission, described the election as "a peaceful and credible expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe." He said that it was free of violence and intimidation. Two members of the mission dissented from the group's report, however. [http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4329066 "Zimbabwe vote 'credible'"] , Reuters and Sapa-AFP ("The Star", South Africa), March 31, 2008.]

On March 30, Tendai Biti claimed victory for the MDC at a news conference, saying that the party held the lead based on partial and unofficial results and that the trend was "irreversible". [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral195.17976.html "MDC pre-empts ZEC, claims victory"] , AFP (newzimbabwe.com), March 29, 2008.] According to the MDC, results from 35% of polling stations (as posted on the doors of the polling stations) showed Tsvangirai with 67% of the vote. Leaders of the security forces and government officials had warned the opposition against announcing unofficial results. [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/30/africa/AF-POL-Zimbabwe-Elections.php "Zimbabwe's opposition party claims early election lead"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), March 30, 2008.] Presidential spokesman George Charamba said that if Tsvangirai's next step, after announcing unofficial results and declaring himself the victor, was to declare himself President, then that would be considered "a coup d'état and we all know how coups are handled". Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission expressed concern at the MDC's announcement of "purported results of the poll when in fact the results are being verified and collated", and it urged the people to be patient. [Ezekiel Chiwara, [http://allafrica.com/stories/200803300092.html "Zimbabwe: MDC Announces Lead in Poll"] , "The Zimbabwe Guardian" (allAfrica.com), March 30, 2008.] Biti said that the MDC did not wait on the Electoral Commission's results because it did not trust the Commission and did not consider it to be independent.

Official results delay

Anxiety increased as more than 24 hours passed with no announcement of any official results. Judge George Chiweshe, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, said that it was taking longer to count the ballots than it had in the past because there were four separate elections occurring at once (for President, for the House of Assembly, for the Senate, and for local councils).

Parliamentary results, but not presidential results, began to be announced by the Electoral Commission on March 31. The MDC continued to claim victory for Tsvangirai, and there was speculation that the delay in announcing results was being used to facilitate rigging. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged the immediate release of results,Sylvia Manika, Blessing Zulu, and Carole Gombakomba, [http://voanews.com/english/Africa/Zimbabwe/2008-03-31-voa51.cfm "Nerves On Edge In Harare As Zimbabwe Election Count Enters Day Three"] , VOA News, March 31, 2008.] and the United Stateswho said that it was "concerned" by the delay. [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral205.17986.html "US concerns over Zimbabwe election results delay"] , newzimbabwe.com, March 31, 2008.]

Unofficial projections

According to projections issued by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) late on 31 March, Tsvangirai was ahead with 49.4% to Mugabe's 41.8%; Makoni had 8.2%, and Towungana had 0.6%. On April 1, MDC Vice-President Thokozani Khupe said that, based on results from all but 27 constituencies, Tsvangirai had 56% of the vote and Mugabe had 37%. [Lindie Whiz, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral208.17990.html "Tsvangirai MDC may turn to rival faction to break deadlock"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 1, 2008.] On the same day, the Electoral Commission invited the presidential candidates or their election managers to be present as results are collated, [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral207.17989.html "ZEC invites candidates for presidential poll count"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 1, 2008.] and Tsvangirai said that he would not declare victory until the Electoral Commission announced official results. Tsvangirai also denied rumors that the MDC was engaged in talks with Mugabe. [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral209.17992.html "Tsvangirai refuses to declare victory"] , Newzimbabwe.com, April 1, 2008.] The Electoral Commission said that some ballot boxes were still arriving from the provinces.Angus Shaw, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral211.17993.html "MDC declares Tsvangirai as new President"] , Associated Press (newzimbabwe.com), April 2, 2008.]

On April 2, Biti said that Tsvangirai had won in the first round with 50.3% against 43.8% for Mugabe. "The Herald" reported on the same day that a second round was likely, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080402142545511C859562 "Zim opposition claim victory"] , AFP ("IOL"), April 2, 2008.] and Biti, saying that "state media has already begun to prepare the people for a run-off in 21 days", affirmed that the MDC would participate in a second round if it was necessary. The government criticized the MDC for declaring victory prior to the announcement of official results, [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080402143946353C498765 "'MDC should have waited'"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 2, 2008.] with Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga calling it "wishful thinking" and warning the MDC to "be very careful".

Matonga said on April 3 that ZANU-PF was "ready for a run-off". He said that it had "let the president down" and had "only applied 25% of [its] energy into this campaign", but that it would "unleash the other 75%" in the second round. Mugabe also made his first appearance since the election, meeting with African observers. [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral214.17997.html "Mugabe said ready for election run-off"] , AFP (newzimbabwe.com), April 3, 2008.]

Fears of a crackdown

On 3 April 2008, rooms at the Meikles Hotel in Harare that were being used by the MDC as offices were ransacked; Biti alleged that the police or the Central Intelligence Organisation was responsible and accused Mugabe of "start [ing] a crackdown." Biti said that he and others had been targeted. In another incident, police arrested several foreign correspondents at a hotel, including Barry Bearak, a correspondent of "The New York Times". [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23940431/ "Opposition offices raided in Zimbabwe"] , Associated Press (MSNBC), April 3, 2008. Accessed April 3, 2008.] On April 4, police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said that Bearak and a reporter from the United Kingdom had been charged with practicing without accreditation, but that two others would soon be released. According to Bvudzijena, "so many other foreign journalists ... have followed the laid-down procedures and are practising legally", but the two reporters who had been charged "thought they were a law unto themselves". [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080404155829669C143209 "Zim charges journalists"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 4, 2008.] The attorney-general said that the charges against the reporters were baseless and they were dropped; however, the police kept them in custody and charged them with observing an election without accreditation, this time under the electoral law instead of the media laws. [Moshoeshoe Monare, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=vn20080407055340771C678418 "Mugabe demands recount"] , "Cape Times" ("IOL"), April 7, 2008, page 1.] The two were released on bail on April 7, although they were ordered to remain in the capital and appear in court on April 10. [ [http://newzimbabwe.com/pages/ijaz49.18022.html "US journalist, Briton released on bail"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 7, 2008.]

On April 4, the ZANU-PF Politburo held a meeting that lasted about five hours, and afterwards ZANU-PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa announced that the party had decided that, if a run-off was necessary, Mugabe would participate. [Cris Chinaka, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080404165716189C654967 "Zanu-PF decides plan of action"] , Reuters ("IOL"), April 4, 2008.] Meanwhile, about 400 pro-Mugabe war veterans, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080404141422972C178560 "Veterans march, opposition pledges unity"] , Sapa-Associated Press ("IOL"), April 4, 2008.] cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article3685256.ece |title=Fear returns to Harare as Mugabe thugs vow to fight ‘white invasion’ |publisher =Times Online| date=2008-04-05|dateaccessed=2008-04-05] who were described in a report from the "Times Online" as Mugabe's "most feared thugs", marched silently through Harare in what was viewed as an attempt to intimidate the opposition. The MDC faction led by Mutambara said that it would back Tsvangirai in a second round, stressing that removing Mugabe from power was its highest priority. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080404141422972C178560 "Veterans march, opposition pledges unity"] , Sapa-Associated Press ("IOL"), April 4, 2008.]

Delays in release of results, High Court hearing

Speculation in early April included the possibility that the 21-day period between the first and second rounds would be extended to 90 days by a presidential decree. A coalition of groups known as the National Constitutional Assembly criticized the failure of the Electoral Commission to release results up to that point, noting that all results had been posted outside of the polling stations and saying that it considered the Electoral Commission's explanations for the delay to be "inadequate". The coalition also said that, "given the anxiety that is gripping the country", it would be "unacceptable" to delay a second round to 90 days after the first round, expressing concern that this could lead to "a serious constitutional and political crisis".

On April 4, the MDC filed an application at the High Court, seeking the release of results.cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/04/zimbabwe.election/index.html |title=Runoff OK, says Zimbabwe ruling party |publisher=CNN |date=2008-04-04 |accessdate=2008-04-04] [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080404141407703C162637 "'Zanu-PF will delay run-off vote'"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 4, 2008.] The MDC's case before the High Court was scheduled to be heard at noon on April 5, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080405121647171C260757 "Cops step in at Zim high court"] , Reuters ("IOL"), April 5, 2008.] but police barred MDC lawyers from entering the High Court building; [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral221.18007.html "MDC lawyers barred from High Court by police"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 5, 2008.] the Electoral Commission requested that it be given more time to prepare a response, and the hearing was delayed until April 6. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080405153951296C716042 "Mugabe has deployed militia - MDC"] , Reuters ("IOL"), April 5, 2008.]

There was initial confusion that the official results be released within six days of the election, subsequently denied. On April 4, the MDC filed an application at the High Court, seeking the release of results. [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=nw20080404141407703C162637 "'Zanu-PF will delay run-off vote'"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 4, 2008.]

The High Court hearing on the MDC's request that the Court order the immediate release of results was held over nearly four hours on April 6. The Electoral Commission argued that the High Court had no jurisdiction in the matter. High Court Judge Tendai Uchena was expected to issue a ruling on April 7; on that day he ruled that the court did have jurisdiction and said that he would decide whether to treat the case as urgent on April 8. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7333918.stm "Judge can rule on Zimbabwe poll"] , BBC News, April 7, 2008.] Godfrey Marawanyika, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080407145629467C942334 "Court dismisses ZEC claim"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 7, 2008.]

High Court Judge Uchena ruled on April 8 that the court would treat the MDC's request for the release of results with urgency. [Nelson Banya, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral226.18022.html "High Court rules MDC petition on results 'urgent'"] , Reuters (newzimbabwe.com), April 8, 2008.]

On April 9, Makoni said that, like the MDC, he is in the dark regarding the whereabouts of the presidential election material. [http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0%2C2172%2C167356%2C00.html "Makoni breaks silence on Zimbabwe election impasse"] , "SABC News", 9 April 2008.] [ [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0%2C%2C2-11-1662_2302835%2C00.html "Makoni hits out at results delay"] , AFP ("News24"), 9 April 2008.] He demanded that the Electoral Commission release results immediately.Lebo Nkatazo, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral233.18037.html "Makoni demands results, seeks Mugabe talks"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 9, 2008.]

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was reported to have closed down operations at its national command centre. [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=77729 "ZIMBABWE: Electoral commission closes shop"] , IRIN, April 11, 2008.] According to Utoile Silaigwana, the deputy chief elections officer, operations did not cease but were merely scaled back, and he said that it was not necessary to keep equipment at the command centre.

Electoral Commission lawyer George Chikumbirike said that the MDC's request to the High Court was "unreasonable" and should be dismissed; he argued that the Electoral Commission needed time to finish collating and verifying results [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral232.18034.html "Judge to rule Monday on poll result delay"] , AFP (newzimbabwe.com), April 9, 2008.] and that it "would be dangerous ... to give an order [to release results] because it might not be complied with ... because of outside exigencies which [the ZEC] will be unable to control". [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_2302927,00.html "SADC calls Zim crisis meeting"] , Reuters ("News24"), 9 April 2008.] Uchena said on April 9 that he would deliver a ruling on April 14. [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/425FEADC-FF66-413B-B182-C2D7DB47E30B.htm "Zambia to hold Zimbabwe summit"] , Al Jazeera, April 9, 2008.]

On April 11. the ZEC said its hands were tied with regard to the release of the presidential poll results because the matter was still before the High Court. [ [http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=33048&cat=1 Our hands are tied: ZEC] "The Herald" April 11]

MDC statements, international response

Tsvangirai, insisting that he had won in the first round, alleged on April 5 that Mugabe was planning to use violence in a second round "to reverse the people's will", and he claimed that the Reserve Bank was printing money to fund the violence. He demanded that Mugabe concede defeat "to allow us to move on with the business of rebuilding and reconstructing the country".Muchena Zigomo, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080405153951296C716042 "Mugabe has deployed militia - MDC"] , Reuters ("IOL"), April 5, 2008.] Tsvangirai said that he wanted to engage in a dialogue with Mugabe that would lead to "a peaceful, orderly and democratic transition", and he assured Mugabe that his safety would be guaranteed if he stepped down. He also said that he had begun consultations on the creation of a national unity government. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080405172214444C260005 "Zim results will come out 'when ready'"] , Reuters ("IOL"), April 5, 2008.] The MDC called on the United Nations to intervene in the situation. [Brian Latham and Antony Sguazzin, [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a6kFP8mY2xj0&refer=home "Mugabe May Resort to Violence in Presidential Runoff (Update7)"] , Bloomberg.com, April 5, 2008.]

On April 7, Tsvangirai was reported to be in South Africa to take part in "private meetings", [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=2646&art_id=nw20080407103510578C894224 "Cops evict 'veterans' off white-owned farms"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 7, 2008.] and he was said to have met with African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma. On the same day, Tsvangirai wrote in the British newspaper "The Guardian": "Major powers here, such as South Africa, the U.S. and Britain, must act to remove the white-knuckle grip of Mugabe's suicidal reign and oblige him and his minions to retire." [http://newzimbabwe.com/pages/mbeki74.18023.html "Tsvangirai meets Zuma, seeks pressure on Mugabe"] , Reuters (newzimbabwe.com), April 7, 2008.] He subsequently met with the President of Botswana, Ian Khama, and spoke in a radio interview about "creating a government that will have space for everyone", although he said that Mugabe himself should have no role because he had served "long enough". With the MDC having effectively won control of the House of Assembly, he said that if Mugabe remained President he would be a "lame-duck" and a "constitutional crisis" would result. [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral230.18031.html "Tsvangirai floats power-sharing compromise"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 8, 2008.]

Meanwhile, the MDC accused the government of trying to provoke its opponents into violence so that it could justify imposing a state of emergency. MDC Secretary-General Biti described the response of other African leaders to the situation as a "deafening silence"; he warned of the possibility of bloodshed, invoking the example of the Rwandan Genocide, and he urged the rest of Africa to intervene. The EU's Javier Solana expressed concern that African leaders had been unable to contact Mugabe. [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/au14.18024.html "Mugabe on voicemail as African leaders seek audience"] , Reuters/AFP (newzimbabwe.com), April 8, 2008.]

In an interview on April 9, Tsvangirai said that "a de facto military coup" was taking place, alleging that troops were being deployed to intimidate people into voting for Mugabe in a potential run-off and that "military leaders in the establishment are trying to subvert the will of the people". He said that he was using his trips to neighboring countries to argue that they should help to resolve the situation, because "political chaos and dislocation" in Zimbabwe would not be in the interest of the region. On the same day, Makoni said that, regardless of who won the election, a government of national unity was needed.

On 10 April, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference, said that the Zimbabwean situation had become a matter of regional, continental and international concern:

As President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference and on behalf of the Catholic Community in Southern Africa, I call on the leaders of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to act swiftly to diffuse this tension by mandating a mediator of sufficient international repute, such as Kofi Annan, to ensure a solution that is acceptable to all Zimbabweans."

[ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200804110823.html "Zimbabwe: Catholic Church Proposes Annan to Mediate Crisis"] , Catholic Information Service for Africa (allAfrica.com), April 11, 2008.]

Ruling party statements, farm invasions

"The Sunday Mail" reported on April 6 that, according to Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, the MDC had approached ZANU-PF in hopes of forming a national unity government, but ZANU-PF rejected this. Chinamasa said that the MDC made this proposal in hopes of avoiding a run-off, which he predicted ZANU-PF would win; he said that ZANU-PF rejected the proposal because it felt the run-off needed to go ahead for legal and democratic reasons (noting that ZANU-PF's "figures, based on polling station returns, clearly show that there is need for a run-off of the presidential election") and because the ideologies of the parties were completely opposed. [ [http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=115&cat=12 "MDC courts Zanu-PF over coalition"] , "The Sunday Mail" (Zimbabwe), April 6, 2008.] Biti denied Chinamasa's claim, calling it "nonsense".Cris Chinaka, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral223.18013.html "High Court to rule on election results"] , Reuters (newzimbabwe.com), April 6, 2008.]

On April 7, "The Herald" quoted Mugabe as saying "The land is ours, it must not be allowed to slip back into the hands of whites." Amidst reports that white former farm owners were returning to their old land in expectation of an MDC victory, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7338925.stm "Zimbabwe emergency talks called"] , BBC News, April 9, 2008.] ZANU-PF supporters invaded at least 23 white-owned farms in Masvingo Province and Centenary number of white-owned farms, according to the Commercial Farmers Union. The Union said that in Masvingo the police were "very cooperative" and were removing the militants, but that the militants kept returning, and he alleged that the invasions were "being co-ordinated from higher up the chain of command". [Moshoeshoe Monare, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=vn20080408054942150C961786 "War veterans turn on Mugabe"] , Sapa-AP, AFP ("IOL"), "Cape Times", April 8, 2008, page 1.] By April 8, the invasions were reportedly escalating; the Commercial Farmers Union said that at least 35 farmers had been forced to leave their properties and about 12 others had left in anticipation of violence.Angus Shaw, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20080408135207953C513005 "'Land invasions worsening'"] , Sapa-Associated Press ("IOL"), April 8, 2008.] On the next day, it said that more than 60 farmers had been expelled from their properties. [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20080410092121609C416160 "Zim downplays farm invasion saga"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 10, 2008.]

Jabulani Sibanda, the National Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, said on April 10 that no farm invasions were occurring. He said that the war veterans were merely investigating to ensure that white farmers were not trying to reclaim properties they had lost during land reform. According to Sibanda, if people had been expelled from their farms, the war veterans were not responsible for it. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20080410092121609C416160 "Zim downplays farm invasion saga"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 10, 2008.]

"The Herald" reported on April 9 ‘Tsvangirai begs for VP post’ - asking Zanu-PF to accommodate him as one of the Vice Presidents in a government of national unity. [ [http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=32981&cat=1 ‘Tsvangirai begs for VP post’] "The Herald" April 9, 2008]

Chinamasa replied to the MDC's call for international intervention by saying that nothing had occurred to warrant it, and he alleged that the MDC was seeking to destabilize Zimbabwe by claiming victory for Tsvangirai.

On 13 April, Information Minister Sikhoanyiso Ndlovu said the Zimbabwean army will not intervene against civilians and soldiers will remain in their barracks. [ [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0%2C%2C2-11-1662_2305021%2C00.html Army will not fight Zimbabweans] "News24" April 13]

Recount requested, arrest of electoral officials

On April 5, "The Herald" reported the arrest of an elections officer in Midlands Province in connection with alleged vote manipulation intended to benefit the MDC by altering vote totals. "The Sunday Mail" reported on April 6 that ZANU-PF had requested that votes in the presidential election be recounted and audited, and that the results be delayed due to "errors and miscalculations" involving the reduction of the number of votes received by Mugabe at polling stations, before the results were sent to the central command center. The party specifically alleged problems in the four constituencies of Mberengwa, where it said the results were "grossly irregular and (in their current form) cannot stand up to scrutiny". The paper also reported that some officials for the Electoral Commission in the Midlands had been arrested. [ [http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=114&cat=12 "Presidential poll result"] , "The Sunday Mail" (Zimbabwe), April 6, 2008.]

Late on April 7, police spokesman Bvudzijena announced that the police had "established that there was deflation of figures in respect of ... the Zanu PF presidential candidate". Bvudzijena said that the police were continuing to investigate such allegations in a number of constituencies across the country, and he said that five electoral officials, in Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces, had been arrested in connection with the alleged fraud,Fikile Mapala, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral227.18024.html "5 ZEC officials 'tampered with Mugabe's votes'"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 8, 2008.] in which Mugabe was said to have lost 4,993 votes. On April 9, two more Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officials were arrested in Matabeleland North Province. [ [http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=32973&cat=1 2 more poll officials nabbed] "The Herald" April 09, 2008] The MDC's Nelson Chamisa said that the claim that the MDC had worked with electoral officials to rig the election was "ridiculously impossible" and alleged that ZANU-PF was seeking to distract people from the fact that results had still not been released.

On April 8, Innocent Gonese, the MDC secretary for legal and parliamentary affairs, said the country's electoral law act is clear that a recount applies only to parliamentary elections, to be contested within a period of 48 hours. He said there was no procedure for recounting of votes in respect of the presidential elections. [ [http://www.swradioafrica.com/News080408/MDC080408.htm "MDC says Mugabe fast running out of options"] , "SW Radio Africa" Zimbabwe news]

By April 9, speculation involved the possibility that, rather than a second round, the presidential election could be held over again entirely as a result of ZANU-PF's allegations of fraud. Didymus Mutasa said at this time that rigging had been so serious that the results should not be announced, because to do so would mean releasing "wrong results". Aside from the alleged reduction in the number of Mugabe's votes at the polling stations, Mutasa said that some people, after voting at one polling station, passed their identity cards to others, who would in turn vote at the other four polling stations in a ward (each ward having five polling stations). Mutasa also alleged that the arrested electoral officials had been trained in fraud techniques in South Africa by Canadian agents who were paid by the MDC. [ [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral228.18029.html "Mugabe wants poll re-run, results may never be known"] , newzimbabwe.com, April 9, 2008.]

On May 2, 2008, a U.K. Foreign Office spokeswoman said that 99 electoral commission officials had been arrested in the previous month. [ [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=af7dv0NAsKNA&refer=home Zimbabwe's MDC Vows to Boycott Runoff With Mugabe] - accessed 2008-07-01.]

References