afrol News, 9 April - Zambian President and Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for an emergency crisis meeting to discuss Zimbabawe's post-electoral impasse.

President Levy Mwanawasa said the political crisis needs the intervention of all southern African countries to find a solution.

The extraordinary summit of heads of state and government of SADC takes place in the capital Lusaka on 12 April. It has been called in consultation with the SADC organs.

Zimbabwe's presidential result still remains a mystery, more than a week after the polls on 29 March.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change filed a petition against the electoral commission at the court, demanding the release of presidential results.

But the commission's lawyer, George Chikumbirike, said it would be "dangerous" for the court to order the release of results on the grounds that the electoral commission would not be able to control "outside exigences."

The ruling Zanu-PF of Robert Mugabe arrested scores of election officers and accused them of vote rigging in favour of the opposition. The party demanded a recount of results.

President of South Africa's governning ANC, Jacob Zuma, also voiced concerns over the delay of election results.

Mr Zuma told 'The Star' that the electoral commission "should have announced results by now."

Zuma, who had earlier met the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, spoke against the delay, a complete departure from the statement of President Thabo Mbeki who called for patience because the situation was still "manageable."

"I think keeping the nation in suspense, and as you know, the Zimbabwean issue has become an international issue - it is almost keeping the international community in suspense - I don't think it augurs very well," Zuma said.

Mr Tsvangirai has been touring the region calling on leaders to prevent Zimbabwe from boiling.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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