Zimbabwe election battle turns to partial recount

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean election officials are expected on Saturday to begin a partial recount of votes from the March 29 elections despite opposition protests and widespread fears political stalemate could erupt in violence.

The recount in 23 of 210 constituencies could overturn the results of the parliamentary election, which showed President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF losing its majority to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change for the first time.

Results of the presidential election have not been released.

Zimbabwe's electoral commission has said some foreign observers will be allowed to monitor the recount, which has aroused widespread concerns in the West that Mugabe's government is planning to rig the outcome.

A delegation from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community will be present, with South Africa's foreign affairs deputy director-general for Africa, Kingsley Mamabolo, leading the mission.

"It is part of the SADC observer mission to count and verify the votes in the election," Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesman for South Africa's Department of Foreign Affairs, said.

It is unclear when the recount, which includes votes cast in the presidential election, will be completed or when results will be issued.

The ruling ZANU-PF triggered the procedure after it formally accused election officials of taking bribes to undercount votes for Mugabe and his ruling party and committing other electoral fraud. A number of election officials have been arrested since.

The MDC, which has declared victory in both the parliamentary and presidential races, unsuccessfully tried to stop the recount. The Harare High Court on Friday rejected its bid to do so.

The court had previously rejected an MDC effort to force authorities to release the result of the presidential vote.

MUGABE ATTACKS

The delay in announcing results has given rise to opposition fears the recount could be a ploy by Mugabe's government to steal the election. The security of the ballot boxes is a concern that could cloud or even tarnish the recount.

The MDC and some international observers accused Mugabe of rigging the last presidential election in 2002, and there are growing calls on the 84-year-old veteran to guarantee a clean result in this poll.

Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, has brushed aside the pressure from London, Washington and elsewhere and is preparing for an expected second ballot run-off against Tsvangirai.

The veteran ruler went on the attack on Friday, accusing Britain of paying Zimbabweans to turn against his government.