Mugabe May Step Down After Election Loss

Zimbabwean president apparently concludes he can't hold on to power
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 1, 2008 9:28 AM CDT
Mugabe May Step Down After Election Loss
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, left, and his wife Grace, right, react during a visit to Harare hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, Thursday, March 27, 2008. Mugabe donated hospital equipment to the government owned hospital ahead of elections to be held on March 29. (AP Photo)   (AP Photo)

Robert Mugabe appears ready to stand down as president of Zimbabwe, the New York Times reports, 3 days after an election in which he is said to have lost to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Sources tell the Times his aides are negotiating a possible exit with Tsvangirai, and the opposition team is talking with national military and intelligence organizations about a transfer of power.

Unofficial election results give Tsvangirai only a 48% to 43% victory, a result which would legally trigger a runoff vote; but Mugabe has concluded that a second ballot would be humiliating, the Times reports. After 28 years in power, Mugabe has left  the country’s economy in shambles, with the inflation rate currently at 100,000%. (More Zimbabwe elections stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X