Harare — ZANU-PF has readied itself for battle in the presidential run-off with the party's top leadership meeting in Harare yesterday to review the poll results and chart the way forward unanimously endorsing President Mugabe and a second electoral fight.

The massive show of unity and camaraderie in the meeting put paid to claims from certain quarters, particularly the Western media, that Zanu-PF had been thrown into disarray after losing the parliamentary majority to the opposition, and that some top leaders had since developed cold feet over the run-off.

Though the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is still to announce the official result of the presidential contest, Cde Mugabe is expected to battle it out with MDC faction leader Morgan Tsvangirai amid reports that neither candidate attained the absolute majority required under the Electoral Act.

ZEC will soon announce the official result and date for the run-off.

Briefing journalists at the end of the Politburo meeting, Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa said the party leadership had unanimously endorsed contesting the run-off and was confident of a resounding victory.

"Because of the stalemate in the presidential election, we have resolved to go for a run-off. The decision for the run-off was in the affirmative by all members. Cde Mugabe, our dear old man, remains our candidate. We shall take him and carry him along with us," Cde Mutasa said.

He appealed to voters to maintain the political maturity and tolerance they showed during the just-ended four-tier poll.

Cde Mutasa's comments were echoed by Vice President Joseph Msika, who urged supporters gathered at the ruling party's headquarters not to lose heart, saying Zanu-PF would prevail.

Cde Mutasa scoffed at prophets of doom predicting a Zanu-PF defeat in the run-off, saying the party had just suffered a minor setback.

"If you are Zanu-PF, you should never expect embarrassment. Whoever said that does not know Zanu-PF. Apa tangogumburwa, hatina kuputsika (We stumbled, we did not fall)," he said.

In apparent reference to the incidence and prevalence of white former commercial farmers who have flocked back into Zimbabwe and are reportedly threatening newly resettled farmers with eviction in the event of Mr Tsvangirai's victory, Cde Mutasa said Zimbabweans would endorse Zanu-PF to protect their birthright -- the land.

He said the white former farmers threatening a reversal of the land reform programme would soon receive the shock of their lives.

"You do not go to another people's country and demand their land. That is childish. If they do that, the law will take its course," he said.

Turning to the possibility of a government of national unity with the MDC-Tsvangirai faction, Cde Mutasa said if the opposition was interested, it should approach Zanu-PF.

"We have co-existed with the opposition since 1999. We have talked to them nicely. The just-ended elections were very peaceful. We want the same environment in the presidential run-off," he said.