President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been re-elected in Zimbabwe, has encouraged those contesting the outcome of the election to pursue legal action.
This comes as an opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), accused the President of orchestrating a “gigantic fraud” in the election results.
President Mnangagwa secured victory with 52.6% of the votes, while Chamisa garnered 44%, according to the election commission’s announcement on Saturday.
Chamisa, however, contested the results vehemently and implied that the CCC would form the new government, though specific plans were not divulged.
He refrained from confirming whether his party intended to challenge the outcome through legal channels.
Chamisa asserted, “The need for change is urgent; we will not wait for five years.”
He conveyed this message to journalists and party members, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Concerns have been raised about the transparency of the election process.
Both the Election Resource Centre and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network reported police raids on their data centers, leading to the arrest of staff and volunteers, which hindered independent result verification.
International observer groups, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, expressed reservations about the conduct of the election.
Analysts highlighted an apparent imbalance favoring the ruling ZANU-PF party, which has dominated Zimbabwean politics for over forty years.
The party denies allegations of unfair advantage or election rigging.
Chamisa took to social media to express his discontent, calling the election a “blatant and gigantic fraud.”
He indicated reliance on diplomatic pressure for a resolution to the ongoing political crisis.
President Mnangagwa, who assumed office after a 2017 coup, welcomed his victory and called on those with concerns to pursue proper legal channels. Mnangagwa’s second term is subject to constitutional limitations on presidential terms.
The situation underscores the contentious nature of term limits in Zimbabwe, given the prolonged rule of former President Robert Mugabe.
ZANU-PF, although falling short of a two-thirds majority in parliamentary elections, expressed a focus on governance over constitutional amendments.
As Zimbabwe navigates this post-election period, the tensions and legal complexities surrounding the contested results remain at the forefront of national and international discussions.
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