Mugabe confident no need for a re-run

SUNDAY MAIL

By Munyaradzi Huni
ZANU-PF presidential candidate Cde Mugabe has said there won’t be any need for a re-run of the presidential elections as he is going to knock all his opponents and conquer them in the "first round".
The President expressed optimism that he is going to win the elections, saying he was not used to the game of boxing where fighters go for several rounds before the winner is decided.
Speaking at Mhofu Primary School in Highfield after casting his vote, President Mugabe said there was no need for him to rig the elections as alleged by the opposition MDC as he has lots of support from the majority of the people in the country.
"We are not used to boxing matches where we go from round one to round two. We just knock each other out. That’s how we have done it in the past. That’s how we will do it this time.
"It’s a constitutional requirement that there may be a re-run, but it won’t be necessary," said the President who was clearly relaxed and in a jovial mood.
When he was asked about allegations by the opposition that Zanu-PF would rig the elections, the President said: "We don’t rig elections. We have a sense of honesty. I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have cheated in elections.

"Why should I cheat? The people are there supporting us. The moment the people stop supporting you, then that’s the moment you should quit politics."
There was commotion at the school as the President, who was accompanied by the First Family, arrived to cast his vote. His security had a tough time restraining journalists both local and international as they jostled to take pictures of the Zimbabwean leader.
First to cast his vote was the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe then followed the President.
After casting his vote, the President had to advise journalists that he would take questions at a more spacious space near the school entrance.

When he was asked about his chances in the elections, the President said: "This time around, like the last time, very good. I rate them in the same way that we will succeed and we will conquer.
"It’s always victory. Yes, yes we are happy that this process is taking place. It’s the culmination of the preparations we have been making as a Government."

He said the issue of rigging was a "matter that (Tony) Blair brought into our system" through the MDC which continues to talk of rigging when the atmosphere is conducive for the holding of free and fair elections.
The President said the optimism that he is going to win the elections stemmed from the fact that the Government is slowly alleviating hardships brought about by sanctions through the "Look East" policy that has seen the country receiving significant sums of foreign currency