Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party has won most seats in the country’s parliament as results continue to be announced.
The Zimbabwe parliament has 210 seats and results announced so far show that the Zanu PF has won 110 seats.
The opposition, MDC secured 41 seats so far. That shows that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party will be securing a substantial parliamentary majority.
Presidential results are yet to be announced though but the MDC is alleging electoral fraud. Leaders of the party on Wednesday said the ruling ZANU-PF is trying to rig the election.
The leader of the MDC, Nelson Chamisa has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of releasing the parliamentary results first to prepare Zimbabweans for a Mnangagwa victory.
Zec seeks to release results to buy time & reverse the people’s presidential election victory. The strategy is meant to prepare Zim mentally to accept fake presidential results.We’ve more votes than ED.We won the popular vote & will defend it !
— Nelson Chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) August 1, 2018
He said “The strategy is meant to prepare Zimbabwe mentally to accept fake presidential results. We’ve more votes than ED (Emmerson Dambudzo). We won the popular vote (and) will defend it”.
Supporters of the MDC on Tuesday held victory rallies outside the party headquarters to celebrate. That was the opposition claimed victory in Monday’s historic presidential elections.
Former MDC finance minister Tendai Biti, told journalists that “There is a deliberate delay in formally announcing results.”
He calls the current happening as “interference with the people’s will”.
Threat of legal challenge
The MDC and other civil society groups have signaled the intention to prepare a legal challenge to force the results into the open.
ZEC chief Priscilla Chigumba has said that there was no cheating in the electoral process. She also revealed that the presidential result may not be ready until Saturday.
As we wait for further official results, I urge us all to remember the teaching from Ephesians, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) July 31, 2018
Voting was relatively calm across Zimbabwe but its the reaction from citizens when results begin to filter in that now matters.
The elections have been held for the first time without the involvement of the former President, Robert Mugabe who exited power after a military takeover.
Zimbabwe election rules provide for a run-off if no presidential candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote. A run-off could be held on September 8.
Source: Africafeeds.com
