The Zimbabwe High Court is expected to rule Monday whether it has the authority to compel the Zimbabwe Elections Commission to announce the outcome of the country's presidential election, held nine days ago. VOA's Delia Robertson reports from our southern Africa bureau in Johannesburg, the court will rule on an application by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change wants the court to force the release of the result in the presidential poll, saying the outcome has been known for a week.
Earlier the MDC said its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, had won 50.3 percent of the votes, giving him the simple majority needed to become Zimbabwe's next president.
But the ruling ZANU PF party is calling for a recount, even though legally it may do so only within 48 hours of the official announcement. President Robert Mugabe said earlier he would contest a second round, required if no candidate attained 50 percent plus one vote.
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai is in South Africa Monday, for what his party says are private consultations on the election.
