Zimbabwe opposition claims a landslide win amid speculation that Mugabe may flee

IT LOOKED like the moment millions of struggling Zimbabweans had dreamed of: the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) yesterday claimed it had won Zimbabwe's most crucial poll since independence in 1980.

Tendai Biti, the secretary of MDC, which is led by Morgan Tsvangirai, said: "The people's victory is on course. We have no doubt we have won this election."

The party said early results indicated the MDC had taken 67 per cent of the vote in 35 per cent of polling stations.

However, Zimbabweans were kept on tenterhooks after the state Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) delayed announcing results, fuelling speculation President Robert Mugabe was preparing to flee.

In central Avondale, youths whistled and sang a version of Let it Be, although police had tried to ban MDC supporters from celebrating until official results were published.

Mr Mugabe, who has brought Zimbabwe to its knees in his 28 years in power, appeared to have lost in some of his traditional rural strongholds, according to party officials.

But George Charamba, a presidential spokesman, warned Mr Tsvangirai that premature victory claims would be seen as an attempted coup, adding: "We all know how coups are handled."

The MDC said it was keeping its own tally to prevent the altering of results by the authorities. Early unverified MDC results last night showed the party had won more than 100 parliamentary constituencies, with Mr Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF taking just five. There are 210 constituencies in total.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Simba Makoni appeared to have polled around a third of votes in southern Matabeleland province.

George Chiweshe, the head of the ZEC, had to be rescued by security officers at a Harare hotel after he was mobbed by journalists and opposition supporters shouting: "We want results."

Mr Biti said: "The results are final in most constituencies but they are deliberately taking their time to announce them."

The ZEC chief said it had been a "more complicated election".

Meanwhile, in what sounded suspiciously like a show of defiance, state radio played a popular gospel song, which includes the lines: "All things are possible… right here in Zimbabwe, We're gonna make it, We shall overcome."

At Hatfield Primary School in southern Harare at midday, a riot policeman paused to study the result posted on the school door. He was a member of Mr Mugabe's feared Black Boots group, who have been used to beat and intimidate opposition supporters.

"It's good, eh?" he whispered, nodding to the results: Morgan Tsvangirai: 409, Robert Mugabe: less than 100. "This time, there's going to be change. We've been suffering too much."

However, excitement turned to impatience by afternoon. In previous polls, state radio has started broadcasting results from each constituency just hours after the close of voting.

"I think Morgan is winning," said "George", a caretaker in Avondale. "That's why Mugabe won't announce."

Unconfirmed reports late yesterday said soldiers had been pulled back to barracks.

"Just pray," said three women at a Hatfield polling station.