Election results?

From Radio New Zealand, 2 April: Final results of Zimbabwe elections expected shortly

The final results of Zimbabwe's parliamentary election are set to be announced in a few hours, according to a source at the Electoral Commission. So far the opposition has a slight lead over President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF, with 90 seats to the incumbent's 85. The source says the results on the senate election will follow but the commission is refusing to commit to any timeline on the more crucial presidential contest. The hold-up to the presidential result has prompted intense speculation the delay is to either fix the outcome or find a dignified way for Mr Mugabe, who has been power for 28 years, to depart. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he is convinced he has beaten Mr Mugabe but has declined to claim victory formally, saying he will not do so until the Electoral Commission publishes the final count.

Meanwhile, Mr Tsvangirai and the Zimbabwean government both strongly denied on Tuesday they were in talks to arrange Mr Mugabe's resignation. "There is no discussion and this is just a speculative story," Mr Tsvangirai said in response to media reports that Mr Mugabe was about to step down in a deal with his Movement for Democratic Change party. Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga told the BBC: "There is no deal. There is no need for a deal … there are no negotiations whatsoever." Mr Mugabe, 84, has ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since independence from Britain in 1980. He is seeking a sixth term. He faced an unprecedented challenge in the elections because of a two-pronged opposition attack and the economic collapse of his once prosperous country, which has reduced much of the population to misery. Zimbabweans are suffering the world's highest inflation of more than 100,000%, food and fuel shortages, and an HIV/AIDS epidemic that has contributed to a steep decline in life expectancy.