In what could signal the first post-independence loss at the ballot box for Robert Mugabe, the opposition party claimed victory Monday in Zimbabwe's federal election.
After a delay in results prompted fears of vote-rigging and led to a heavy security presence to pre-empt any violence, Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission has begun announcing results of voting held over the weekend.
The opposition party claims to have won the election with 60 per cent of the vote, a claim that, if true, would mean the end of President Mugabe's 28-year rule.
Early Monday morning, deputy chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana made a nationwide radio broadcast announcing the results in polls for six parliamentary seats. They were split evenly, with three going to Mugabe's ruling party and three going to the opposition.
"We'll be back with you when we have more results," he said before going off the air.
But some election observers have said early results were known as early as 11 p.m. Saturday night, just a few hours after voting ended. In previous Zimbabwe elections, results have been known within a few hours of the polls closing.
"We'll give Mugabe time to accept defeat," opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa told The Associated Press. "Even if they are trying to rig, they won't succeed. Our victory is overwhelming."
But government officials are warning the opposing party about declaring victory.
"It is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled,'' said chief presidential spokesperson George Charamba, according to a state-controlled newspaper.
The U.S. also weighed in on Monday and called Zimbabwe "to do the right thing" and honour the voters wishes.
In a country where recent elections have been fraught with allegations of fraud at the polls, people are anxious about the delay, said Peter Godwin, author of "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun."
"The truth is that the last two elections in Zimbabwe were probably lost by Robert Mugabe, but he declared himself the winner in both occasions," he told CTV's Canada AM.
"And the delay between the poll itself and the announcement of the numbers by the central counting body is what is getting everybody very worried."
He said Harare was abuzz Monday morning with rumours that chiefs of the security forces were meeting in the capital to form a plan to deal with violence that could break out if the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party is in fact declared the loser.
Mugabe under fire
Mugabe's leadership has come under fire in recent years as the country has reached a virtual economic collapse, with unemployment at 80 per cent, skyrocketing inflation at more than 100,000 per cent and shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine.
His main challenge came from chief opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who narrowly missed winning the 2002 elections, and finance minister Simba Makoni, 58.
Voting was generally peaceful in Saturday's voting. The Globe and Mail's Stephanie Nolen told Canada AM the election had fewer irregularities than the previous four elections she has covered in the country.
However, she agreed with Godwin there is a rising tension in the country, mostly linked to the delay in results.
"The unfortunate thing of course is that in Zimbabwe winning the vote doesn't necessarily mean winning the election," Nolen said, pointing out that 36 hours have passed and the results are only just beginning to trickle out.
"A lot of people think between the vote and what actually gets announced, Mr. Mugabe will proclaim another victory which raises a whole other set of questions."
Nolen also pointed out that the opposition was claiming victory before the polls were even closed. She said it's certain that a large number of votes went to the MDC, but their victory is not necessarily assured and claims of victory by both sides need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Ruling party officials have said Mugabe was in consultations Sunday night with his security chiefs over fears about how they might react to news of a defeat.
Mugabe has said he would accept any election result, but his security chiefs have said they will only serve him.
