The figures on the leaked official ZEC tally show Simba Makoni with 4.9 percent and Langton Towungana with 0.1 percent.
The PGHQ figures give Tsvangirai a marginally higher tally than what the MDC parallel voter tabulation audit had revealed. The party had earlier said Tsvangirai had garnered 50,3 percent.
MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti however stated then that there had been an approximate three percent margin of error, which explains the small discrepancy, but which still vindicates the MDC position that Tsvangirai had won by an absolute majority.
But impeccable security sources said these official results would never see the light of day, and had already been classified.
There has been so much manipulation of figures and ballot boxes, were secretly stored at the old Reserve Bank Building before the ongoing recount in 23 constituencies, our source said.
The recount has been called in a desperate bid to overturn the MDC’s parliamentary majority and underestimate Tsvangirai’s presidential poll tally so that it is shy of the 50 percent needed to assume the presidency.
And with the run-off to take place, the jostling for power has already began. However, it all appears to be heading in one direction despite a determined State-sponsored onslaught on the electorate.
All the opposition presidential candidates have publicly declared their support for Tsvangirai – and between them they garnered 5 percent of the vote, which will widen Tsvangirai’s lead.
People are asking for change, and it’s a good thing Makoni, Mutambara and the other guy have all said they will support Tsvangirai to complete the change they have began, said political commentator Ronald Shumba.
A snake isn’t quite dead until you cut off its head, so they have united to cut it off in the run-off. Mugabe is better advised to concede now and avoid a run-off because he is set for an embarrassing defeat.
Mugabe is increasingly becoming vulnerable as he is beginning to lose regional diplomatic support over the results hold up and his attempts to retain power through force. His erstwhile allies in SADC this week united in condemning him and barring a 70-ton arms shipment from docking at their ports, causing the ship to be recalled to China.
There is also pressure from SADC, whose chairman Levy Mwanawasa did not hide his impatience with Mugabe this week, as well as South African ruling party leader Jacob Zuma, who fired a broadside at the Mugabe regime, in stunning contrast to Mbeki’s impotent quiet diplomacy.
The United States has also taken an active interest, dispatching its top Africa envoy Jendayi Frazer to neighbouring South Africa on Thursday for a round of shuttle diplomacy aimed at dealing firmly with Mugabe.
I think for the first time at a very crucial moment, Mugabe is losing diplomatic support in the region and without that support his ability to survive politically is diminished, said University of Zimbabwe political science professor, Eldred Masunungure.
Post published in: News