Zimbabwe results: reaction quotes

The poll was held more than a month ago

Key figures react after the announcement of the long-awaited official results of Zimbabwe's 29 March presidential poll.

The results give Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, 47.9%, to 43.2% for President Robert Mugabe. With no candidate winning outright, the contest is expected to go to a run-off.

BRIGHT MATONGA, DEPUTY INFORMATION MINISTER

"There's no outright winner, pointing to a run-off. The laws of Zimbabwe and the constitution clearly states that for one to be an outright winner they have to achieve 50 plus one percent. If no-one achieves that then there's going to be a run-off so we are following our constitution, not people's wishes."

NELSON CHAMISA, MDC SPOKESMAN

"This whole thing is a scandal - scandalous daylight robbery - and everyone knows that. We won this election outright, and yet what we are being given here as the outcome are some fudged figures meant to save Mugabe and [the president's party] Zanu-PF."

SIMBA MAKONI, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

"The way forward for this country is for the political leaders to work together... The country cannot afford another election. It's a lot, it's too much for a bankrupt country. We cannot afford another election."

BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE

"The election results released five weeks after polling day lack credibility, but it's clear that at least 60% of the population voted for change... President Mugabe's campaign of violence and intimidation, coupled with the arrest of 99 electoral commission officials in the last month, show exactly how Zanu-PF would approach any second round."

TOM CASEY, SPOKESMAN, US STATE DEPARTMENT

"It's pretty hard to see how there can be a meaningful run-off in Zimbabwe when the government has done everything it could to both delay and obscure the results. It is a little difficult... for people to take that issue seriously when the government of Zimbabwe is busy harassing, repressing, arresting and abusing members of the opposition."