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Counting of votes in Zimbabwean polls must be transparent, says Ban Ki-moon

Counting of votes in Zimbabwean polls must be transparent, says Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the need for “the utmost transparency” during the counting and tabulation of votes from last weekend’s presidential and parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he had been closely following the situation in the Southern African nation, where the results are still emerging after voters went to the polls on Saturday.

“As the counting and tabulation of votes continues, he calls for continued calm and he urges the utmost transparency be exercised so that the people of Zimbabwe can have full confidence in the process,” the statement said.

In the presidential poll, the incumbent Robert Mugabe is facing Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni. If a winning candidate does not receive more than 50 per cent of the total vote, then a run-off race is required.