President Robert Mugabe called a meeting of his ruling party politburo today to discuss Zimbabwe's elections, amid uncertainty over whether he will stand in a runoff vote to stay in power.
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| Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe at an election rally last month |
Senior ZANU-PF official Didymus Mutasa declined to comment on whether the party was planning for a Mugabe runoff against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, although another official said earlier it was ready for a vote and would win it.
"All I can confirm is there is a politburo meeting. That's enough, that's all I can say at the moment," said Mr Mutasa, the party secretary for administration.
Party sources said Mr Mugabe, facing the biggest crisis of his 28-year rule, would chair the meeting.
Analysts said Mr Mugabe was believed to have convened the party leadership to discuss their next move after ZANU-PF's first defeat in parliamentary elections and to gauge how much support there was for him running in a second round.
All the signs are that Mr Mugabe, a liberation war leader still respected in Africa, is in the worst trouble of his rule after facing an unprecedented challenge in the elections because of the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy. Although five days have passed since the presidential election, no results have been released.
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said earlier the party was ready for a second round, in the strongest indication yet that Mr Mugabe intended to stand, despite calls by the opposition to concede defeat and avoid embarrassment.
"From ZANU-PF's perspective, we are very confident that we've got the numbers, when it comes to a re-run, we're ready for that second round, and we are confident that President Robert Mugabe will win this time," Mr Matonga said.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says Mr Tsvangirai won an absolute majority in the presidential vote and no re-run is necessary.
In an interview with Reuters Television, Mr Matonga added: "We think, and it is my assumption...there may not be a clear winner of the presidential one (vote) and it points to a re-run." In his first public appearance since the March 29th election, Mr Mugabe met the head of an African Union election observer team at his residence in Harare, state television reported.
Asked by about his meeting with Mr Mugabe, Sierra Leone's former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah told ZTV: "He looked very relaxed, and is of the view that the problems of the country will be resolved amicably, and he is very relaxed about it." Officials said today results were expected soon from the senate election.
They say the presidential outcome will not be released until after that. The Senate has 66 seats, six of them appointed by Mr Mugabe. It has the power to block legislation from the lower house.
The Zimbabwean constitution concentrates much power in the president and parliament has been seen in the past as a rubber stamp body.