HARARE, March 31: Concern grew on Monday that long delays in announcing Zimbabwe’s election results hid attempts by President Robert Mugabe to cling to power by rigging.

Almost 48 hours after polls closed, the results of only 52 of 210 parliamentary constituencies had been declared, showing Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party one seat ahead of the main opposition MDC.

Two of his ministers lost their seats.

No results were announced for the presidential vote, in which Mugabe faces the most formidable political challenge of his 28 years in power.

“It is now clear that there is something fishy. The whole thing is suspicious and totally unacceptable,” said MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) spokesman Nelson Chamisa.

Mugabe, 84, is under pressure from a two-pronged attack by veteran MDC rival Morgan Tsvangirai and ZANU-PF defector Simba Makoni, who both blame him for Zimbabwe’s ruin.

Official results showed ZANU-PF with 26 seats, MDC with 25 and a breakaway MDC faction with one.

There was a chorus of concern over the delays, including the European Union and both opposition challengers.

The MDC said unofficial tallies showed Tsvangirai had 60 per cent of the presidential vote, twice the total for Mugabe, with more than half the results counted. Private polling organisations also put Tsvangirai well ahead.

In his first public comments since the vote, Makoni criticised the way results were being announced. “We are very worried by the manner in which things are unfolding,” he told Reuters.

The Save Zimbabwe Campaign also expressed concern at the delay which it said “gives reason to Zimbabweans to suspect that the electoral process is being manipulated by the incumbent.”

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Public Affairs Minister Chen Chimutengwende both lost their seats.—Reuters