NATIONAL REFERENDUM
The Herald, seen as a barometer of the official mood, said a transitional government should seek the help of the SADC and the international community to write a new constitution adopted after a national referendum.
"It stands to reason that, the transitional government of national unity, negotiated by the two leading contending parties, under the mediation of SADC, supported by the international community, should be led by the incumbent president," it said.
The MDC deprived Mugabe's ZANU-PF party of its majority in parliament in a parallel vote on March 29 but there has also been a delay to a partial recount of votes from that poll.
The recount could overturn the MDC victory. The opposition and Western governments say it is merely another ploy by Mugabe to steal back the election. The Herald said ZANU-PF retained one of the 23 seats being recounted.
Tsvangirai called for African leaders to acknowledge that he won the vote, saying Mugabe would be allowed an honourable exit.
Africa's reputation would suffer "serious disrepute" if Mugabe stayed in power, Tsvangirai said in Accra.
Tensions have been rising on the ground as Tsvangirai tours the region seeking help in pushing aside Mugabe, a wily leader who critics say has used ruthless security crackdowns and a vast patronage system to keep a tight grip on power.
The MDC has accused ZANU-PF of killing 10 of its members and rounding up hundreds, charges denied by the ruling party.
The Herald said police have handled over 75 cases of political violence carried out by suspected MDC supporters.
The editorial called on both sides to compromise.
"The peace and security of Zimbabwe, that it has enjoyed since independence, is at great risk," it said.
"Whilst the ruling party must stop behaving like a wounded buffalo, the opposition party must stop its hysterics and lapses into delusion."
