Last curtain in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's High Court is expected to decide Monday whether to order the government to reveal who won the presidential election two weeks ago. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he won, as reflected in a parliamentary majority won by his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, and the delay in announcing the results reflects efforts by the ruling party, ZANU-PF, to fix the election. Tensions have been rising in the streets of Harare, the capital, amid rumors of a military crackdown instigated by longtime President Robert Mugabe in an effort to hang on to power. ZANU-PF says neither candidate won a majority and a runoff election will be necessary. Recounts have been ordered in many districts at the ZANU-PF's request and MDC is threatening legal action. "The soldiers are in the barracks where they belong because the country does not fully require their services in such a peaceful environment," Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said yesterday, according to the Reuters international news service. "I believe everyone in the country is aware that there is no military junta." MDC has called for a general strike starting today to put pressure on Mugabe to release the results. Zimbabwe's once-promising economy has collapsed under Mugabe's rule and residents face shortages of food and fuel and inflation of more than 100,000 percent.