|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Official: Mugabe wins re-election after opposition pulls out
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | Brandonius Maximus |
| Last Edited | Brandonius Maximus Jun 22, 2008 05:54pm |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Announcement |
| Media | TV News - CNN |
| News Date | Sunday, June 22, 2008 11:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Robert Mugabe apparently retained his presidential post Sunday after the opposition candidate dropped out of this week's runoff because, he said, asking Zimbabweans to vote was asking them to risk their lives.
"The courageous people of Zimbabwe, of this country, and the people of the MDC have done everything humanly and democratically possible to deliver a new Zimbabwe and new government," candidate Morgan Tsvangirai said after a closed-door meeting of his Movement for Democratic Change.
A government official, however, said Tsvangirai dropped out only because he fears being handed a "humiliating defeat" in the runoff.
Tsvangirai was to face Mugabe in a presidential runoff Friday after neither candidate won an outright majority in the March 29 election.
"We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process," Tsvangirai said, adding that it would be dangerous for Zimbabweans to cast ballots. Learn more about Zimbabwe ยป
"We in the MDC cannot ask them to cast their vote on the 27th when that vote could cost them their lives," he said. "We will not play the game of Mugabe."
The candidate cited violent attacks, elections rigging and arrests targeting his party as reasons for dropping out of the election.
Tsvangirai asked the United Nations "to intervene to restore the rule of law, peace and the conditions of a free and fair election."
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said after the announcement that the opposition decision handed Mugabe victory and that the presidential runoff will not be held Friday.
"The candidate who remains in the race is formally declared the president," Chinamasa said, citing Zimbabwean law. |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
