Zimbabwe Elections Results Finally Announced

Nearly five weeks after the fact, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission at long last released the results of that country's Presidential election. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai received 47.9% of the vote while President Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF won 43.2%. Tsvangirai fell short of the 50% required for an outright victory. The Commission said "a second election will be held at a date to be announced." However, the MDC has stated there are about 120,000 votes that are not accounted for that would put him above the 50% plateau. The MDC has stated it will not partake in a runoff. The MDC has also stated it would be prepared to govern jointly with ZANU-PF as long as Mugabe is out of the picture. I have mixed feelings about the MDC boycotting a runoff. On one hand it could be argued that by not abiding by the runoff, the MDC is picking and choosing to observe the rules when it is convenient for them. On the other hand, Mugabe's forces have had more than a month to intimidate those who voted for Tsvangirai into voting "correctly" the second time around. I can understand the MDC's concerns. But if they don't participate then Mugabe will win.