Mugabe's party losing in Zimbabwe election

HARARE, Zimbabwe, March 31 (UPI) -- Claims of vote rigging have been raised in Zimbabwe's elections as results began being announced Monday.

The delay prompted speculation about irregularities after the Movement for Democratic Change said its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, defeated incumbent Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF, Business Day reported.

In Harare, unofficial reports indicate Tsvangirai won 55 percent of the vote in the presidential race, against 37 percent for Mugabe and 5 percent for independent candidate Simba Makoni.

Elections in the 24 parliamentary constituencies appeared to be equally split between Zanu-PF and the MDC, the BBC announced.

Election officials attributed the delay to the number of national and local elections conducted Saturday, the British broadcaster said.

"It's an absolute necessity that all results be meticulously analyzed at this stage," George Chiweshe, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, told the BBC.

Reports from election agents, which the commission wouldn't confirm, indicated as many as nine of Mugabe's ministers had lost, Business Day reported.

A presidential candidate needs at least 51 percent of votes to avoid a runoff. Indications Sunday were that Tsvangirai could win by as much as 60 percent, Business Day reported.