MUGABE LOSES ELECTION IN ZIMBABWE, REFUSES TO RELEASE RESULTS, ASKS FOR RECOUNT

I am glad to see Morgan Tsvangirai, head of Zimbabwe's Movement for a Democratic Change (MDC), reject Robert Mugabe's call for a recount of the Zimbabwe presidential election. Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has not allowed the release of the results of the elections that took place more than a week ago, but nevertheless now is calling for a recount. You don't have to know much about politics to suspect the worst. Mugabe has lost the election but refuses to allow the results to be made public. And now he wants a recount.

Tsvangirai has personally known the brutality of the Mugabe regime. Mugabe's police beat him up about four months ago, requiring stitches on his head and a visit to the hospital. Now Mugabe's Zanu-PF party threatens to send "war veterans" out and beat up anyone who does not agree to the recount.

The BBC reports:

"Mr Tsvangirai . . . has claimed victory in the election and called on Mr Mugabe to step down to allow a peaceful handover of power.
He has accused the 84-year-old ruler - in power since independence in 1980 - of plotting a campaign of violence to stay in office."

Mugabe has been in power some 28 years and now refuses to go out gracefully. Having lost the presidential election, Mugabe now seems intent on engaging in illegal thuggery.

According to the BBC:

"Information Minister Bright Matonga told the BBC the anomalies were to do with the collation of the election results - there was a discrepancy between the results put outside polling stations and the form sent to the ZEC. He insisted the request did not amount to a recount.

"Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Commercial Farmers' Union said a number of white-owned farms had been briefly invaded by self-styled war veterans' groups loyal to Mr Mugabe in southern Masvingo."