Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe accepted that the opposition’s Morgan Tsvangirai won more votes in the presidential election and will contest a run-off in a political battle that has raised fears of bloodshed. Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) cried foul after Zimbabwe’s electoral body announced on Friday that he had won 47,9% of the vote
Officials began verifying the results from Zimbabwe’s March 29 presidential election on Thursday, bringing a step closer the release of the long delayed vote count, the electoral commission said. Senior government sources say opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has beaten President Robert Mugabe but not by an outright majority.
A partial recount of Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential election has been completed and verification of the results by the candidates will start on Tuesday, an election official said on Monday. The month-long wait for results from the March 29 election has led to a tense political stand-off that has raised fears of bloodshed.
Zimbabwean election officials are expected on Saturday to begin a partial recount of votes from the March 29 elections despite opposition protests and widespread fears the political stalemate could erupt in violence.The recount in 23 of 210 constituencies could overturn the results of the parliamentary election.
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/ 18 January 2008
Zimbabwe’s central bank introduced new higher value banknotes on Friday that failed to ease a cash shortage that has kept commercial banks busy with long queues of desperate residents wanting to withdraw money. Banknotes have joined a growing list of basic items in short supply in the crisis-hit country.
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/ 21 December 2007
Workers in one of Harare’s big department stores stock shelves with luxury goods only the rich can afford, while at an adjacent bank ordinary Zimbabweans are clamouring for cash, which is the latest thing in short supply. Despite the store’s tinsel, Christmas trees and Santa Claus figurines, for most Zimbabweans celebrations will be muted in this Southern African country.
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/ 29 November 2007
Zimbabwe’s economy is forecast to grow by 4% next year, which would be the first expansion in nearly a decade, while inflation should slow, the finance minister said on Thursday. Samuel Mumbengegwi did not devalue the Zimbabwe dollar as expected but analysts quickly dismissed the growth and inflation expectations.
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/ 21 November 2007
Zimbabwe’s central bank governor said on Tuesday the country would not impose new price controls, easing fears of deeper shortages of basic goods. President Robert Mugabe’s government imposed a blanket freeze on prices of all goods and services in June in a desperate bid to contain the world’s highest inflation rate.
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/ 16 October 2007
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party said on Tuesday that President Robert Mugabe’s government was escalating a violent crackdown against its members. Nelson Chamisa, spokesperson for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), told journalists it was worried by increased cases of violence against its supporters.
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/ 27 September 2007
Foreign-owned companies in Zimbabwe said on Thursday they were assessing the likely effects on their business of a new law forcing them to give local owners majority holdings. The Empowerment Bill, pushed through Parliament by the government on Wednesday, will give Zimbabweans a 51% stake in foreign firms, including the important mining and banking sectors.