BREAKING NEWS: Official MDC Results: Mugabe Loses, No Runoff

According to the latest release from BBC News, Tendai Biti [MDC Secretary General], is claiming victory for the MDC while the ruling ZANU-PF [Mugabe] is saying that MDC is in a state of "wishful thinking" and that Mugabe will not be going anywhere. Mr. Biti made his declarations at a News Conference and said [to no one's surprise] that the election was "Not Free, Not Credible, and Not Fair". Mr. Biti proceeded to criticize the Zimbabwean Election Committee for not releasing their results.

REFERENCE:

BBC News: "Zimbabwe Opposition Claims Victory"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7326532.stm

As soon as more news comes out of Zimbabwe, I will inform Now Public. In the meanwhile, I invite Now Public or anyone in Zimbabwe or close to Zimbabwe to contribute to this election saga with new twists. Thank You.

I suspect it will be the military behind the scenes who decide who has won.

I would like to thank amyjudd, Vinny, politisite for their contribution. At the present time, BBC News Online announced on their ticker that ZANU-PF [Mugabe] may have lost his majority in Parliament. Vinny is right in exercising caution and saying that it will be the military who decides who has won. Yet, according to the BBC; certain members of the military and recipients of the nationalisation programme by Mugabe are even talking about the need for change. This is a wait and see situation. I also want to add if it has not been included that Mugabe once lost a referendum in 2000 and did not leave.

I also have to add that former Ethiopian Dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam has been living in Zimbabwe since he was deposed in 1991. Mengistu Haile Mariam is wanted in Ethiopia for genocide and crimes against humanity. Mr. Mugabe refused requests to send Mengistu Haile Mariam to Ethiopia.

For azzayindia: Thank You for your comments.

For jordan: Thank you for your comments and observation. That is why I wrote about the referendum of 2000 in which Mugabe lost. 

I sent the following E Mail to SW Radio Africa [the shortwave radio station transmitting into Zimbabwe from Great Britain].

For SW Radio Africa: I am covering the events in Zimbabwe with Now Public.com. Please feel free to notify me via E Mail about what is ocurring. Cheers from a listener who is writing for the first time from Miami Florida. Alvarez-Galloso

Attempted to E Mail ZBC News, E Mail was sent to news@newsnet.co.zw Will await response afterwards.

I have also sent E Mails to the Financial Gazette in Zimbabwe, The Zimbabwe Independent, and the Standard. The rest is up to them. I read the Herald and the Chronicle [the Pro Mugabe Newspapers] and they still have Mugabe winning. It is not over until it is over. The fact that there is an attempt at fraud would not be denied.

Great job updating this story! It's an important issue and is history in the making.

I'm bringing this story current as this is an important event.

AlvarezGalloso - thanks for the updates and please keep us posted.

For Rachel, amyjudd, vinny, swan: Thanks for your comments. I have received no reply from those I E Mailed. Again I will keep Now Public.com posted. Vinny: You were right about the inflation rate. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has 100,580.2% as the inflation rate with the official exchange of rate of  $1.00 USA = $30,000 Zimbabwean Dollars.

Data from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on the Government Domestic Debt in Zimbabwean Dollars

http://www.rbz.co.zw/gdd/gdd.asp

End of 16th of May 2003: ZW $446,102.60

End of 7th of March 2008: ZW $ 1,619,206,762.55

From a blogger in Zimbabwe:

Thank You Vinny for this message from the blogger in Zimbabwe. According to BBC News, Mugabe states that he is willing to "go to the second round of voting".  This was based on the results of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network which has Tsvangirai with 49% of the vote compared to Mugabe's with 42% of the vote. Regardless, the Daily Mail issued a report which stated that Mugabe had told his family "it is over but would consider a runoff". It appears that the hardliners within the ZANU-PF want the runoff and that Mugabe is determined to find a way to hold onto power. It appears that if there is a second runoff, fraud and intimidation would be worse than the first round.

Source:

Daily Mail: "Mugabe 'tells his family it's over' but considers runoff as hardliners urge him to stay until the bitter end"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=549588&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

BBC News: "Mugabe Ready to Face Fresh Vote"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7327725.stm

ABC Online in Australia has reported the first appearance of Mugabe since the elections. It was television footage of Mugabe meeting with African Union Observers including former President of Sierra Leone Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. Mr. Kabbah was interviewed by state television with nothing but praise for Mugabe while Information Minister Bright Matonga promises to "unleash the other 75% [of the energy] into the run off [election]".

SOURCE:

ABC Online: "Mugabe Makes First Post Election Appearance"

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/03/2207517.htm