Zimbabwe’s opposition argued in the country’s top court that the presidential election results must be thrown out, alleging that only “massive doctoring” of the vote had kept Emmerson Mnangagwa in office.
Lawyers for the Movement for Democratic Change MDC launched a blistering attack on Mnangagwa, the ruling ZANU-PF party and the election commission over the July 30 ballot — Zimbabwe’s first election since the ousting of Robert Mugabe last year.
Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s former ally, won the election with 50.8 percent of the vote just enough to meet the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a run-off against MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, who scored 44.3 percent.
“There were at least 16 polling stations with identical results — identical results for Chamisa, identical results for Mnangagwa. It is like a kid who was playing with the figures,” said Mpofu.
He argued that irregularities wiped out the narrow margin by which Mnangagwa had avoided a second-round vote.
Thembinkosi Magwaliba, representing Mnangagwa, dismissed claims that the opposition had produced any evidence of fraud.
Nine judges, led by Chief Justice Luke Malaba, are hearing the case in Harare, where the court premises were given high security.
In a first for the country, the proceedings were broadcast live on state television.
Mnangagwa, who has vowed to revive Zimbabwe’s ruined economy, had hoped the elections would draw a line under Mugabe’s repressive 37-year rule and open up a stream of foreign investment and aid.
Campaigning was more open than previous votes, but the election was marred by the army opening fire on protesters, killing six, allegations of vote-rigging and a crackdown on opposition activists.
Source: Today Ng
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