British foreign secretary: 'President Mugabe persists in his ambition to steal the election'
{{date|April 21, 2008}}
{{Zimbabwe}}[[David Miliband]], the [[United Kingdom|British]] foreign secretary today said that "the constitutional crisis in Zimbabwe continues as President Mugabe persists in his ambition to steal the election."

[[Image:David Miliband 11 April 2007.JPG|thumb|left|[[w:David Miliband|David Miliband]] {{Image source|Shelley and Alan Heckman}}]]
Miliband noted in his statement that "it is over three weeks since the elections were held but the [[w:Zimbabwe Electoral Commission|Zimbabwe Electoral Commission]] is yet to announce the Presidential results."

"More worryingly President Mugabe and his ZANU(PF) party have unleashed a campaign of violence against those ordinary Zimbabweans, sixty percent of them, who in spite of everything voted against him," he continued.

The statement continued, "political refugees from the rural areas that were once President [[w:Robert Mugabe|Mugabe's]] heartlands but have had the courage to express their opposition peacefully through the ballot box have been pouring into urban centres to receive medical treatment and support."

"Local and international NGOs are highlighting these abuses daily," says Miliband, "evidence that they are taking place is irrefutable."

Leaders of the opposition party, the [[w:en:Movement for Democratic Change|Movement for Democratic Change]] (MDC) recently said that the unofficial tally, based on one-third of the election returns, shows their leader, [[w:en:Morgan Tsvangirai|Morgan Tsvangirai]] with 67% of the vote. The 'results' were posted on the doors of polling stations, and then sent to party officials by text messaging. MDC Secretary General [[w:en:Tendai Biti|Tendai Biti]] said then that, "Barring a miracle, Mugabe can't win."

On Friday, Mugabe accused the British of working with the MDC to overthrow the government.

== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=Zimbabwe begins vote recount|date=April 19, 2008}}
*{{wikinews|title=Robert Mugabe denounces Britain and opposition|date=April 18, 2008}}
*{{wikinews|title=Zimbabwe's election delay could have 'serious implications', warns UN Secretary-General|date=April 16, 2008}}
*{{wikinews|title=Zimbabwe opposition claims early victory in election|date=March 30, 2008}}
*{{wikinews|title=Zimbabwe prepares for election|date=March 29, 2008}}

{{haveyoursay}}

== Sources ==
*{{source
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7359393.stm
|title=In full: Miliband Mugabe statement
|author=David Miliband
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=April 21, 2008}}
*{{source
|url=http://www.pr-inside.com/british-foreign-secretary-accuses-zimbabwe-s-r548685.htm
|title=British foreign secretary accuses Zimbabwe's Mugabe of using violence to steal election
|author=Associated Press
|pub=pr-inside.com
|date=April 21, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7332941.stm|title=Mugabe party questions vote count|author=|pub=BBC News Online|date=April 6, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://voanews.com/english/Africa/Zimbabwe/2008-03-30-voa16.cfm|title=Zimbabwe Electoral Authorities Pressured To Release Results|author=|pub=Voice of America|date=March 30, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0331/p25s04-woaf.html?page=1|title=Zimbabwe opposition claims election win|author=Scott Baldauf|pub=Christian Science Monitor|date=March 30, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/03/30/zimbabwe.election/index.html?iref=mpstoryview|title= Zimbabwe opposition claims early victory|author=|pub=CNN|date=March 30, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a5m4ndH8Lhb0&refer=home|title=Mugabe May Be Headed for Election Defeat; MDC Claims Victory|author=Antony Sguazzin and Brian Latham|pub=Bloomberg L.P.|date=March 30, 2008}}

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[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Robert Mugabe]]
[[Category:David Miliband]]
[[Category:Movement for Democratic Change]]
[[Category:Morgan Tsvangirai]]
David Miliband, the British foreign secretary today said that "the constitutional crisis in Zimbabwe continues as President Mugabe persists in his ambition to steal the election."

David Miliband 
Miliband noted in his statement that "it is over three weeks since the elections were held but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is yet to announce the Presidential results."

"More worryingly President Mugabe and his ZANU(PF) party have unleashed a campaign of violence against those ordinary Zimbabweans, sixty percent of them, who in spite of everything voted against him," he continued.

The statement continued, "political refugees from the rural areas that were once President Mugabe's heartlands but have had the courage to express their opposition peacefully through the ballot box have been pouring into urban centres to receive medical treatment and support."

"Local and international NGOs are highlighting these abuses daily," says Miliband, "evidence that they are taking place is irrefutable."

Leaders of the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) recently said that the unofficial tally, based on one-third of the election returns, shows their leader, Morgan Tsvangirai with 67% of the vote. The 'results' were posted on the doors of polling stations, and then sent to party officials by text messaging. MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti said then that, "Barring a miracle, Mugabe can't win."

On Friday, Mugabe accused the British of working with the MDC to overthrow the government.
United Kingdom Zimbabwe Africa Politics and conflicts Robert Mugabe David Miliband Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai