Mugabe Extends 33-Year Zimbabwe Rule as Rival Seeks Support

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was re-elected and won the two-thirds legislative majority his party needs to change the constitution as his main rival urged African leaders to overturn what he said was a fraudulent vote.

Mugabe, 89, got more than 61 percent in the July 31 ballot to extend his 33-year rule, according to results from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who won 34 percent, said he wants an investigation of the vote, mainly of the voters roll and ballot papers, and will submit a dossier of alleged fraud to the African Union and the Southern African Development Community. The U.S. called the election “deeply flawed.”