Robert Mugabe looked on Sunday to a seventh term as Zimbabwe’s President after winning elections denounced by the Opposition as “stolen” and criticised by Western powers.
Mugabe, 89, who has run the country since he helped end white rule in 1980, trounced his long-standing political rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, in Wednesday’s election, Zimbab-wean election officials said.
By the time he completes his new tenure, he will have ruled the former British colony in southern Africa for 38 years.
Official results showed Mugabe won 61 per cent of the presidential vote and his party got a super majority in parliament that will allow it to change the constitution. He routed Tsvangirai who trailed heavily with 34 per cent.
But 61-year-old Tsvangirai, who has unsuccessfully tried to unseat Mugabe three times, condemned the vote as “fraudulent and stolen”. The reaction in today press was divisive with State-controlled newspaper The Herald proclaiming “President Mugabe romps to victory”, while the independent Daily News said “It’s a crisis”.