Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 4, 2008

Zimbabwe Electoral Officials to Meet Soon on Presidential Runoff Date 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1C1F28C:A6F02AD83191E16034FEA7BAEFB45E2CB3350E090FE6A6E8& 
Chairman of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says full board will meet to discuss runoff election between President Robert Mugabe and opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai 
Zimbabwe's state newspaper reports that top election officials plan to meet soon to discuss a date for a presidential runoff, despite uncertainty about whether the opposition candidate will take part.







Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice George Chiweshe arrives at the verification room at a Harare hotel, 01 May 2008The Sunday Mail quotes the chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Justice George Chiweshe, as saying the full board will meet "as soon possible" to discuss a runoff election between President Robert Mugabe and opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.



Leaders for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change warned Saturday that Mr. Tsvangirai has not decided if he will participate in a runoff election. Party leaders said they believe Mr. Tsvangirai won the election outright with a majority of the original vote on March 29.

The opposition has rejected an official tally that shows Mr. Tsvangirai defeated Mr. Mugabe last month, but fell short of the majority needed to avoid a second-round vote. 

The government's vote count, issued more than a month late, has been viewed with skepticism both in Zimbabwe and abroad. 

If Mr. Tsvangirai does not take part in the runoff, Mr. Mugabe would retain his job, extending his 28-year rule over Zimbabwe.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.





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