THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has insisted that publication of Presidential election results can still be delayed beyond the five days stipulated by law.

Acting ZEC chair, Joyce Kazembe, told state radio that the electoral body reserves the right to delay announcement of results in the event of anomalies.

She insisted that the five day period stipulated in amendments to the electoral legislation was subject to review.

The five day period was agreed by GPA parties as part of reforms to the country’s electoral laws ahead of fresh polls next year.

The requirement was aimed at preventing the 2008 crisis when announcement of the first round results of the Presidential ballot was delayed for more than a month.

Attributed to logistical problems, the delay stocked political tensions in the country amid claims by opposition groups that the results were being massaged in favour of President Robert Mugabe.

Analysts however said Mugabe was using the delay to strategize on how to face the biggest crisis of his 28-year rule after losing the Parliamentary ballot to the MDC.

Final tallies for the legislative vote gave the MDC-T 99 seats, Zanu PF 97 and the breakaway MDC faction 10.

When eventually released, the results showed that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai had won 47.9% of the vote and Mugabe won 43.2%, thereby necessitating a run-off.

Mugabe won the re-run after Tsvangirai pulled out accusing his rival of launching a brutal crackdown on his supporters.