Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Secretary-General Tendai Biti speaks during a news conference in Johannesburg, May 15, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HARARE, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has set June 27 as the date when the presidential election run-off will be held, according to a Government Gazette published on Friday.

    "This notice may be cited as the Electoral (Date of Second Presidential Election) Notice, 2008. A poll shall be taken on Friday the 27th June, 2008, for the purpose of electing a person to the office of President," the government gazette said.

    The notice was made by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in terms of the electoral Act with the approval of the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. By-elections for three vacant House of Assembly seats would also be held on the same day, the government gazette says.

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Secretary-General Tendai Biti speaks during a news conference in Johannesburg, May 15, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ZEC chairperson Justice George Chiweshe said on Friday the date for the election had been announced through a government the gazette. "A statutory instrument has been gazetted setting the date for the election on June 27," he said.

    ZEC has extended to 90 days from date of the first poll result the period within which the run-off must be held mainly due to the need to put the necessary logistics in place to ensure the smooth running of the election.

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki (L) and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe walk down the red carpet at Harare International Airport May 9, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "The run-off is a full election and just as big as any general election, so the resources that we need are obviously substantial. Some of the resources were depleted during the first election, so we need more time to prepare for the run-off," he said.

    The ruling ZANO-PF said following the extension of the period until the run-off, the party now eagerly awaits the proclamation of the actual election date while the opposition MDC-T said the extension was "unacceptable and illegal".

    Chiweshe said it was not practicable to hold a run-off in the 21 days prescribed by the Electoral Act. ZEC announced presidential poll results on May 2 in which Tsvangirai received 47.9 percent of the valid votes cast, while President Mugabe got 43.2 percent of the valid votes. Since neither candidate achieved an absolute majority, a run-off is required under the Constitution.

    Incumbent President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will battle it out in the second round election. The opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he would take part, despite earlier threats to boycott over alleged fraud and government intimidation.