Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has admitted defeat to his family and advisers, in the most important election of his 28-year rule, as reported by South African financial daily Business Day.

For the first time since independence in 1980, Mr Mugabe lost control of parliament and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) also claimed victory in a presidential election last Saturday and said Mugabe should concede defeat.

Business Day said Mr Mugabe was deciding if he should contest a run-off vote needed because MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed to secure a clear majority.

"Mugabe has conceded to his closest advisers, the army, police and intelligence chiefs. He has also told his family and personal advisers that he has lost the election," An unidentified source has been quoted as saying.

Mugabe, known for his fierce and defiant rule, has not been seen in public since the vote.

In final results of the election for parliament's lower house, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won 99 seats, while Mr Mugabe's ZANU-PF won 97 seats and a breakaway MDC faction won 10. One independent candidate won a seat.

Next to be issued will be the results for parliament's upper house, the senate. No official results have emerged in the presidential vote.

Widely blamed for economic collapse of his once prosperous nation, Mr Mugabe has faced growing discontent with the world's highest inflation rate of more than 100,000 per cent, a virtually worthless currency and severe food and fuel shortages.

It was strongly claimed by the opposition and international observers that Mr Mugabe rigged the last presidential election in 2002.

Tags: politics