Mugabe set for seventh term after ‘stolen’ vote

Robert Mugabe looked to a seventh term in power in Zimbabwe after winning elections denounced by the opposition as “stolen” and criticised by Western powers.

Mugabe, 89, who has run the country since he helped end white rule in 1980, trounced his long-standing rival Morgan Tsvangirai in Wednesday’s election, officials said.

By the time he completes his new tenure, he will have ruled the former British colony in southern Africa for 38 years, first as prime minister and then as president.

Official results showed Mugabe won 61% of the presidential vote and his party got a super majority in parliament that will allow it change the constitution. He routed Tsvangirai who trailed with 34%.

But Tsvangirai, 61, who has tried to unseat Mugabe three times, condemned the vote as “fraudulent and stolen”.

The reaction in the press was divisive with state-controlled newspaper The Herald proclaiming “President Mugabe romps to victory”, while the independent Daily News said “It’s a crisis”.

US secretary of state John Kerry described the election as “deeply flawed” and said the US “does not believe that the results... today represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people”.

William Hague, the British foreign secretary, added his own “grave concerns” over the conduct of the vote in the former colony.

Australia yesterday called for Zimbabwe to go to the polls again. “Given our doubts about the results, Australia calls for a rerun of the elections based on a verified and agreed voters roll,” foreign minister Bob Carr said in a statement.

Tsvangirai vowed to challenge the result in court and said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would boycott government institutions. “We will not join government,” he said. “We will go to court.

“The fraudulent and stolen election has plunged Zimbabwe into a constitutional, political, and economic crisis.”

With gentler assessments from African observers who nonetheless noted flaws, South Africa President Jacob Zuma offered his “profound congratulations” to Mugabe.

“President Zuma urges all political parties in Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the elections as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people,” a foreign ministry statement said.

The MDC has until Wednesday to present evidence of fraud to the high court. Inauguration is expected within 48 hours of the court’s decision.