ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe said yesterday it would hold a delayed presidential election run-off on June 27th, when the opposition hopes to oust veteran leader Robert Mugabe after nearly three decades in power.
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai is returning to Zimbabwe to start his run-off campaign after a court overturned a police ban on the opposition's first rally since it claimed victory in the country's disputed March 29th elections, party officials said.
The long-awaited second round is being held because official results showed Mr Tsvangirai beat Mr Mugabe in the first round, but not by enough votes to avoid a run-off.
Mr Mugabe told a ruling ZANU-PF party conference yesterday the result had been "disastrous", and vowed he would not lose power to an opposition he said was backed by "a hostile axis of powerful foreign governments" and western imperialists.
Zimbabweans are hoping the poll will help end political and economic turmoil and put their country on the road to recovery. But analysts said there was no quick fix after years of decay and the widespread violence that followed the March vote.
"A poll shall be taken on Friday, June 27th, 2008, for the purpose of electing a person to the office of president," a notice in a government gazette said.
Mr Tsvangirai, who has been abroad since shortly after the March election to garner support, said he would also take part.
"We will participate in the run-off but ... violence has to cease for an election to be conducted or that election will not be legitimate," he told reporters.
The opposition scored a small victory yesterday when a court ordered police not to interfere with a MDC rally, due to take place in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo tomorrow. Police banned the rally on Thursday.
Mr Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe's problems stemmed from Mr Mugabe's long rule.
The regional SADC (South African Development Community) grouping, which is due to monitor the run-off, said this week conditions were neither safe nor fair yet for a fresh vote. - (Reuters)