Runoff To Decide Close Election In Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A runoff will be necessary to decide Zimbabwe's presidential election, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, citing the government's own election results.

Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga's comments came a day after Zimbabwe's opposition rejected a runoff. That's despite a press report that the official tally — still not released — showed its candidate beat President Mugabe, but not by enough to avoid a second round.

"As far as I'm concerned, there is going to be a runoff," Mr. Matonga told the Associated Press.

On Wednesday, CNN quoted an unidentified senior official with Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party as saying results from the March 29 election gave opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai 47% of the votes while Mr. Mugabe trailed with 43%.

Mr. Matonga would not say whether the CNN report was correct or give details about the figures he said the government has. He said no one won the 50% plus one vote needed to avoid a runoff.