Zimbabwe's opposition on Saturday accused President Robert Mugabe of deploying militias for a war to reverse the result of last weekend's election. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Mugabe was "preparing a war on the people" and deploying loyal forces, including liberation war veterans, ahead of a presidential runoff vote.
"Militants are being rehabilitated," Tsvangirai told a press conference, adding that the central bank was printing money "for the finance of violence". The MDC says it won last weekend's presidential vote. Official results show the MDC won a parallel vote in which Mugabe's ZANU-PF lost control of parliament for the first time - the biggest defeat of Mugabe's 28-year rule.
ZANU-PF and independent projections show Tsvangirai being forced into a presidential runoff after failing to win an absolute majority. "The circumstances have changed, ZANU-PF has threatened, has deployed militias, has deployed war veterans," Tsvangirai said.
Calling Mugabe a lame duck president, Tsvangirai said he "must concede to allow us to move on with the business of rebuilding and reconstructing the country." Zimbabwe's electoral commission on Saturday announced the final results of the senate election, showing ZANU-PF had won 30 seats, the same as MDC and a breakaway opposition faction combined.
But control of the senate, which can block lower house legislation, will depend on who wins the presidential election. The head of state appoints 15 members and local chiefs, who are normally loyal to him, appoint the remaining 18.
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