Opposition rejects Zimbabwe poll results; Mugabe promises constitutional change News
Opposition rejects Zimbabwe poll results; Mugabe promises constitutional change

[JURIST] Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai Saturday rejected the official results of national parliamentary elections held Thursday. The official tally gave President Robert Mugabe's ruling party 74 seats, while Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change [official website], is said to have won 40 seats. The results came amid allegations of widespread fraud [JURIST report] designed to ensure Mugabe's Zanu PF party [official website] would remain in power. International observers have criticized the poll, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated that the elections were "heavily tilted in the government's favor". Mugabe has promised to alter Zimbabwe's constitution and establish a second parliamentary chamber. The current constitution concentrates power in the hands of one president. AP has more.