WORLD> Africa
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WORLD> Africa
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Mugabe casts vote for Zimbabwe run-off election
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-27 23:51 An outright winner needs to obtain an absolute majority of the votes, otherwise a run-off needs to be held, according to Zimbabwe's law. Tsvangirai, who in 1999 founded the Movement for Democratic Changes (MDC), is taking refuge in the Dutch embassy, saying he feared for his safety. Incumbent President Mugabe, 84, who has been the head of state since the southern African country gained independence in 1980, accused Tsvangirai of being a puppet used by Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler Britain and its allies, who Mugabe said are angered by Zimbabwe's land reform program.. The run-off is held as Zimbabwe is facing serious economic challenges including a 2 million percent inflation and shortage of basic goods including bread. Western powers and some African countries have expressed concern and urged Zimbabwe to postpone the run-off. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chairperson Justice George Chiweshe assured that the election will be free and fair. "You never have an election that is 100 percent perfect and I believe we can hold a free and fair election," said the chairman. Observers from many countries and organisations, including the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are monitoring the election. SADC alone has more than 400 election observers in the country. |
