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Miliband accuses Mugabe of "rigging" election

21/04/2008

Foreign secretary David Miliband has strongly criticised the current situation in Zimbabwe and accused incumbent president Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu Party of unleashing a "campaign of violence".

Mr Miliband submitted a written statement to the House of Commons today claiming Mr Mugabe had lost last month's election, with 60 per cent of Zimbabweans voting against him.

He also claimed that "no one can have any faith in this recount" in reference to the recounting taking place in 23 constituencies in Zimbabwe.

"The count itself is proceeding at a ludicrously slow rate," Mr Miliband added.

Elections took place in Zimbabwe over three weeks ago but official results have still not been published.

Opposition party Movement for Democratic Change and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai claim to have won the national election and believe the current recount is illegal.

Mr Miliband today accused Mr Mugabe of attempting to reverse the election result in an attempt to hold on to power.

"If that is the case, then what we are witnessing is a charade of democracy," the foreign secretary said.

"We can have little confidence that whatever is ultimately announced as the presidential election results will not have been sullied and contaminated by rigging during this recount."

The foreign secretary also backed neighbouring African states to help resolve the situation in Zimbabwe.

Prime minister Gordon Brown is due to meet Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa's African National Congress party, on Wednesday.