Mugabe's party demands a recount?

By Rick Moran

No, it's not a misprint. Officials with the ZANU-PF party of Robert Mugabe have called for the electoral commission to look into "errors and miscalculations" in the vote for President held last weekend:

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the move was illegal - a recount is possible only after the result has been published. They have asked the High Court to publish the outcome immediately.

The MDC believes its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won outright in the vote held eight days ago. The opposition party has also denied it had proposed a unity government. A minister had earlier said Zanu-PF had rejected an opposition call for a coalition.

On Saturday, the opposition accused President Mugabe of "preparing a war". And the farmers' union said a number of white-owned farms had been briefly invaded by war veterans' groups loyal to Mr Mugabe in southern Masvingo.

A spokesman said the situation was under control after police intervened to disperse them.

Zimbabwe is on the verge of civil war. It appears that Mugabe is manipulating the situation in order to position himself to either steal the election in a recount or steal it in a revote.

The result in either case would be the same - Mugabe continuing as president. The opposition will not sit still for this thwarting of the will of the people which means bloodshed is probable.