MDC Announces it Will Not Participate in Runoff Election
By Daniel Hollingsworth
April 10, 2008 | Printer Friendly

Zimbabwe in Context: Extensive background information on the situation in Zimbabwe

A spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe indicated on April 10 that presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai will not stand in a run-off election against Robert Mugabe if one is held, according to a report by AFP.  Tsvangirai and MDC have claimed outright victory in the March 29 election, arguing that any run-off will just be an opportunity for the ruling ZANU-PF party of Mugabe to rig the vote.  Tendai Biti, the secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) told a press conference in Johannesburg, “We will not participate in a re-run of elections because we won that election hands down without a need for a re-run.”

Reports also indicate that both Mugabe and Tsvangirai will be present at a forthcoming summit of the Southern African Development Community in Zambia to find a resolution to the conflict.  Voice of America writes that in confirming Mugabe’s attendance, the Zimbabwean government portrayed the meeting as “a normal meeting aimed at briefing southern African leaders on the vote,” while MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti called the summit an opportunity for the leaders to persuade Mugabe to accept defeat.

References:

AFP: Zimbabwe opposition rules out participation in presidential run-off

Voice of America: Mugabe, Tsvangirai to Attend Emergency Summit on Zimbabwe Election Crisis