Mugabe rival would 'sweep run-off'

Harare: Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai would easily win a presidential election run-off against Robert Mugabe if one is held, a senior figure in his Movement for Democratic Change said yesterday.

"In the unlikely event of a run-off, the MDC will once again romp to victory by an even bigger margin," Thokozani Khupe, deputy leader of the MDC, told reporters in Harare a day after election officials called a second round.

"The MDC wishes to reiterate that this election was clearly won by the MDC and president Tsvangirai," Khupe said, restating opposition claims that Tsvangirai won an outright victory in the March 29 election.

"We still need to be convinced before we participate in a runoff," she said.

"We are convinced that the run-off is unnecessary considering the clear mandate that the people of Zimbabwe showed when they voted for change, dignity and jobs," she added.

Khupe said the party called on the Southern African Development Community, a regional group that has sought to mediate in the stand-off, to assist in verifying its claims. Election officials on Friday said there was no outright victor, with Tsvangirai winning 47.9 per cent and Mugabe winning 43.2 per cent, and called a run-off at a date yet to be announced.

Top opposition leaders were expected to meet to consider their next step. Khupe did not comment on the meeting.

Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said the constitution requires a second round no sooner than 21 days from the announcement of the results, and no later than a year.