The opposition in Zimbabwe on Tuesday (August 29) demanded a new presidential election and reserved the right to take legal action after a vote deemed “chaotic and void”, which officially gave a second term to President Emmerson Mnangagwa .
“The whole process was chaotic and sucked” and the results “do not reflect the true will of the people of Zimbabwe”, said at a press conference in Harare Ostallos Siziba, spokesman for the first opposition party. , the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). “There is no choice but to organize a new, fair election,” he said. Asked about a possible legal action, Mr. Siziba clarified that “the necessary procedures will be implemented at the appropriate time”.
Zimbabweans went to the polls last week to choose their president and MPs. The battle was mainly between the Zanu-PF in power since independence in 1980 and the “Triple C” of Nelson Chamisa, a 45-year-old lawyer and pastor.
Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected with 52.6% of the votes cast, against 44% in favor of Mr. Chamisa, according to the results announced on Saturday by the electoral commission. The opposition did not endorse this count, which was deemed “distorted”, and Mr. Chamisa said on Sunday that he had “won the election” and had “the real results”.
“Serious problems” affecting the “transparency” of the ballot
Failures, such as the lack of ballots in certain offices, have multiplied, particularly in the capital Harare, an opposition stronghold. International observers highlighted “serious problems” affecting the “transparency” of the vote: voters could not be found on the lists, others were the target of intimidation in this country already burdened by a long history of polls tainted by irregularities.
Washington on Monday condemned “the systematic bias against the opposition during the campaign”, marked by banned rallies and arrested opponents. President Mnangagwa warned on Sunday against criticism of the conduct of the poll, congratulating himself on having been re-elected by a “mature democracy” at the head of an “independent and sovereign nation”. In 2018, Robert Mugabe’s successor was narrowly elected (50.8%). Mr. Chamisa, already his rival, had challenged the results but had been dismissed. The army fired on demonstrators two days after the election, killing six.
