In its preliminary report on 30 March, the SADC observer mission gave the election a positive assessment, although it noted some concerns. Jose Marcos Barrica, the head of the mission, described the election as "a peaceful and credible expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe." He said that it was free of violence and intimidation. Two members of the mission dissented from the group's report, however."Zimbabwe vote 'credible'", Reuters and Sapa-AFP (The Star, South Africa), 31 March 2008.
On 30 March, Tendai Biti claimed victory for the MDC at a news conference, saying that the party held the lead based on partial and unofficial results and that the trend was "irreversible"."MDC pre-empts ZEC, claims victory", AFP (newzimbabwe.com), 29 March 2008. According to the MDC, results from 35% of polling stations (as posted on the doors of the polling stations) showed Tsvangirai with 67% of the vote. Leaders of the security forces and government officials had warned the opposition against announcing unofficial results."Zimbabwe's opposition party claims early election lead", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 30 March 2008. Presidential spokesman George Charamba said that if Tsvangirai's next step, after announcing unofficial results and declaring himself the victor, was to declare himself President, then that would be considered "a coup d'état and we all know how coups are handled". Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission expressed concern at the MDC's announcement of "purported results of the poll when in fact the results are being verified and collated", and it urged the people to be patient.Ezekiel Chiwara, "Zimbabwe: MDC Announces Lead in Poll", The Zimbabwe Guardian (allAfrica.com), 30 March 2008. Biti said that the MDC did not wait on the Electoral Commission's results because it did not trust the commission and did not consider it to be independent.
Official results delay Anxiety increased as more than 24 hours passed with no announcement of any official results. Judge George Chiweshe, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, said that it was taking longer to count the ballots than it had in the past because there were four separate elections occurring at once (for President, for the House of Assembly, for the Senate, and for local councils).
Parliamentary results, but not presidential results, began to be announced by the Electoral Commission on 31 March. The MDC continued to claim victory for Tsvangirai, and there was speculation that the delay in announcing results was being used to facilitate rigging. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged the immediate release of results,Sylvia Manika, Blessing Zulu, and Carole Gombakomba, "Nerves On Edge In Harare As Zimbabwe Election Count Enters Day Three", VOA News, 31 March 2008. and White House spokesman Tony Fratto said that it was "concerned" by the delay."US concerns over Zimbabwe election results delay", newzimbabwe.com, 31 March 2008.
Unofficial projections According to projections issued by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) late on 31 March, Tsvangirai was ahead with 49.4% to Mugabe's 41.8%; Makoni had 8.2%, and Towungana had 0.6%. On 1 April, MDC vice-president Thokozani Khupe said that, based on results from all but 27 constituencies, Tsvangirai had 56% of the vote and Mugabe had 37%.Lindie Whiz, "Tsvangirai MDC may turn to rival faction to break deadlock" , newzimbabwe.com, 1 April 2008. On the same day, the Electoral Commission invited the presidential candidates or their election managers to be present as results are collated,"ZEC invites candidates for presidential poll count", newzimbabwe.com, 1 April 2008. and Tsvangirai said that he would not declare victory until the Electoral Commission announced official results. Tsvangirai also denied rumours that the MDC was engaged in talks with Mugabe."Tsvangirai refuses to declare victory", Newzimbabwe.com, 1 April 2008. The Electoral Commission said that some ballot boxes were still arriving from the provinces.Angus Shaw, "MDC declares Tsvangirai as new President", Associated Press (newzimbabwe.com), 2 April 2008.
On 2 April, Biti said that Tsvangirai had won in the first round with 50.3% against 43.8% for Mugabe. The Herald reported on the same day that a second round was likely,"Zim opposition claim victory", AFP (IOL), 2 April 2008. and Biti, saying that "state media has already begun to prepare the people for a run-off in 21 days", affirmed that the MDC would participate in a second round if it was necessary. The government criticized the MDC for declaring victory prior to the announcement of official results,"'MDC should have waited'", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 2 April 2008. with Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga calling it "wishful thinking" and warning the MDC to "be very careful".
Matonga said on 3 April that ZANU-PF was "ready for a run-off". He said that it had "let the president down" and had "only applied 25% of [its] energy into this campaign", but that it would "unleash the other 75%" in the second round. Mugabe also made his first appearance since the election, meeting with African observers."Mugabe said ready for election run-off" , AFP (newzimbabwe.com), 3 April 2008.
Fears of a crackdown On 3 April 2008, rooms at the Meikles Hotel in Harare that were being used by the MDC as offices were ransacked; Biti alleged that the police or the Central Intelligence Organisation was responsible and accused Mugabe of "start[ing] a crackdown." Biti said that he and others had been targeted. In another incident, police arrested several foreign correspondents at a hotel, including Barry Bearak, a correspondent of The New York Times."Opposition offices raided in Zimbabwe", Associated Press (MSNBC), 3 April 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2008. On 4 April, police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said that Bearak and a reporter from the United Kingdom had been charged with practising without accreditation, but that two others would soon be released. According to Bvudzijena, "so many other foreign journalists ... have followed the laid-down procedures and are practising legally", but the two reporters who had been charged "thought they were a law unto themselves"."Zim charges journalists", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 4 April 2008. The attorney-general said that the charges against the reporters were baseless and they were dropped; however, the police kept them in custody and charged them with observing an election without accreditation, this time under the electoral law instead of the media laws.Moshoeshoe Monare, "Mugabe demands recount", Cape Times (IOL), 7 April 2008, page 1. The two were released on bail on 7 April, although they were ordered to remain in the capital and appear in court on 10 April."US journalist, Briton released on bail" , newzimbabwe.com, 7 April 2008.
On 4 April, the ZANU-PF Politburo held a meeting that lasted about five hours, and afterwards ZANU-PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa announced that the party had decided that, if a run-off was necessary, Mugabe would participate.Cris Chinaka, "Zanu-PF decides plan of action", Reuters (IOL), 4 April 2008. Meanwhile, about 400 pro-Mugabe war veterans,"Veterans march, opposition pledges unity", Sapa-Associated Press (IOL), 4 April 2008. who were described in a report from The Times as Mugabe's "most feared thugs", marched silently through Harare in what was viewed as an attempt to intimidate the opposition. The MDC faction led by Mutambara said that it would back Tsvangirai in a second round, stressing that removing Mugabe from power was its highest priority.
Delays in release of results, High Court hearing Speculation in early April included the possibility that the 21-day period between the first and second rounds would be extended to 90 days by a presidential decree. A coalition of groups known as the National Constitutional Assembly criticised the failure of the Electoral Commission to release results up to that point, noting that all results had been posted outside of the polling stations and saying that it considered the Electoral Commission's explanations for the delay to be "inadequate". The coalition also said that, "given the anxiety that is gripping the country", it would be "unacceptable" to delay a second round to 90 days after the first round, expressing concern that this could lead to "a serious constitutional and political crisis".
On 4 April, the MDC filed an application at the High Court, seeking the release of results."'Zanu-PF will delay run-off vote'", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 4 April 2008. The MDC's case before the High Court was scheduled to be heard at noon on 5 April,"Cops step in at Zim high court", Reuters (IOL), 5 April 2008. but police barred MDC lawyers from entering the High Court building;"MDC lawyers barred from High Court by police" , newzimbabwe.com, 5 April 2008. the Electoral Commission requested that it be given more time to prepare a response, and the hearing was delayed until 6 April."Mugabe has deployed militia – MDC", Reuters (IOL), 5 April 2008.
There was initial confusion that the official results be released within six days of the election, subsequently denied. On 4 April, the MDC filed an application at the High Court, seeking the release of results.
The High Court hearing on the MDC's request that the Court order the immediate release of results was held over nearly four hours on 6 April. The Electoral Commission argued that the High Court had no jurisdiction in the matter. High Court Judge Tendai Uchena was expected to issue a ruling on 7 April; on that day he ruled that the court did have jurisdiction and said that he would decide whether to treat the case as urgent on 8 April."Judge can rule on Zimbabwe poll", BBC News, 7 April 2008.Godfrey Marawanyika, "Court dismisses ZEC claim", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 7 April 2008.
High Court Judge Uchena ruled on 8 April that the court would treat the MDC's request for the release of results with urgency.Nelson Banya, "High Court rules MDC petition on results 'urgent'" , Reuters (newzimbabwe.com), 8 April 2008.
On 9 April, Makoni said that, like the MDC, he is in the dark regarding the whereabouts of the presidential election material."Makoni breaks silence on Zimbabwe election impasse", SABC News, 9 April 2008."Makoni hits out at results delay", AFP (News24), 9 April 2008. He demanded that the Electoral Commission release results immediately.Lebo Nkatazo, "Makoni demands results, seeks Mugabe talks" , newzimbabwe.com, 9 April 2008.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was reported to have closed down operations at its national command centre."ZIMBABWE: Electoral commission closes shop", IRIN, 11 April 2008. According to Utoile Silaigwana, the deputy chief elections officer, operations did not cease but were merely scaled back, and he said that it was not necessary to keep equipment at the command centre.
Electoral Commission lawyer George Chikumbirike said that the MDC's request to the High Court was "unreasonable" and should be dismissed; he argued that the Electoral Commission needed time to finish collating and verifying results"Judge to rule Monday on poll result delay" , AFP (newzimbabwe.com), 9 April 2008. and that it "would be dangerous ... to give an order [to release results] because it might not be complied with ... because of outside exigencies which [the ZEC] will be unable to control"."SADC calls Zim crisis meeting", Reuters (News24), 9 April 2008. Uchena said on 9 April that he would deliver a ruling on 14 April."Zambia to hold Zimbabwe summit", Al Jazeera, 9 April 2008.
On 11 April, the ZEC said its hands were tied with regard to the release of the presidential poll results because the matter was still before the High Court.Our hands are tied: ZEC The Herald 11 April
MDC statements, international response