Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC Coalition has rejected the ruling of the Constitutional court that upheld the election victory of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the just concluded Zimbabwe elections.
The opposition leader Nelson Chamisa rejected the court ruling that threw out his election challenge alleging that he had a legitimate claim to lead Zimbabwe.
Mr. Nelson Chamisa’s opposition group, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, had challenged the election victory of the ruling ZANU-PF at the constitutional court saying the elections was marred with fraud and inflation of results.
Read: Nigeria Police Sanction DPO over Allegations of Corruption
Reacting to the Court ruling, Chamisa told reporters in Harare; “I have a legitimate claim that I should lead Zimbabwe.”
Chamisa then took to twitter to express his views to his supporters;
“I hear your cries and feel your pain. I know you feel cheated, but take heart – your victory is not lost. Your will is sacred and we’ll listen to you on the path of peace and course of action to be taken to rescue our beautiful Zimbabwe from the jaws of poverty, corruption and dishonesty.” He tweeted.
In the court ruling on Friday, Chief Justice Luke Malaba declared that the MDC alliance had failed to prove accusations of electoral fraud during the Zimbabwe elections.
“The application is dismissed with costs … Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is duly declared the winner of the presidential elections held on the 30th of July 2018,” Malaba said in his ruling.
Recall that Herald had reported about President’s Mnangagwa’s reaction to the ruling which he said was no surprise to him. He had also called for peace and unity admonishing the opposition to move forward in the interest of the country.
Mnangagwa also hinted at the possibility of working with the opposition when he extended an invitation to Nelson Chamisa saying;
“Nelson Chamisa, my door is open and my arms are outstretched, we are one nation, and we must put our nation first. Let us all now put our differences behind us. It is time to move forward together.”
The MDC’s legal challenge cited a catalogue of alleged discrepancies, including incorrect counting and fake polling stations, as well as instances at voting centres where there were more ballots cast than registered voters.
Leave a Reply