Another possible reason for the delay in announcing the results has been pointed out to me: an attempt to provoke protests from MDC supporters. If they turn violent, then it gives Bob an excuse to declare a State of Emergency, which would conveniently allow him to extend the term of his presidency and the outgoing houses of Parliament for another 5 years. The precise wording of the Constitution seems to require the country to be at war to invoke that clause, but with Mugabe being so adamant that the MDC is backed by the UK & US, I wouldn’t put it past him to use that as enough justification.

Hopefully the folks on the ground are sensible enough not to rise to that bait.