The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said on Wednesday the presidential run-off set for June 27 is still on, dismissing the opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai's withdrawal from the race.
ZEC Chairperson Justice George Chiweshe told journalists that it was too late for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader to pull out of the election.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe greets supporters of his ruling ZANU PF in Banket, 93 km (58 miles) west of the capital Harare, June 24, 2008. Mugabe defied mounting pressure on Tuesday from both inside and outside Africa to call off Friday's presidential election, saying he had a legal obligation to go ahead.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Chiweshe said the commission met earlier in the day to deliberate on the issue, following the submission of the withdrawal letter by Tsvangirai on Tuesday.
"It was unanimously agreed that the withdrawal had inter alia been filed well out of time and for that reason the withdrawal was of no legal effect. Accordingly, the commission does not recognize the purported withdrawal and is therefore proceeding with the presidential run-off election as planned," he said.
Chiweshe said ballot papers had since been printed and dispatched.
