Miliband: Mugabe cannot ignore will of the people

Opposition claim parliamentary majority in Zimbabwe election

Wednesday, 02, Apr 2008 12:00

David Miliband has told MPs the UK stands with the people of Zimbabwe.

Speaking to the House of Commons, the foreign secretary said the African country has the opportunity of a democratic future.

He said the situation was fluid and the results of Saturday's election still unclear. Explaining that he did not want to hand Robert Mugabe a propaganda coup, he said the UK would not be endorsing any candidate or pre-emptying the result.

But Mr Miliband said Mugabe's delaying publication of the official results was a "calculated tactic".

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has claimed victory in the elections, with the official results confirming a parliamentary majority, but Mugabe is yet to concede defeat or stand down as president.

In a statement to MPs, Mr Miliband said: "Outside the 9,400 polling stations, the tallies have been posted. The Zimbabwean Electoral Commission knows what those results are, and has a duty to announce them.

"The delay in announcing the outcome can only be seen as a deliberate and calculated tactic.

"It gives substance to the suspicion that the authorities are reluctant to accept the will of the people."

Mr Miliband also criticised the conduct of the poll, saying the conditions for a free and fair election had not been in place.

Speaking for the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey called on the government to strengthen sanctions against Zimbabwe if Mugabe attempts to "cling on to power in the case of a confirmed democratic verdict".

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague warned Mugabe had turned Zimbabwe into a "political pressure-cooker".