Former Movement for Democratic Change policy coordinator and Bulawayo South legislator Eddie Cross says when you appreciate that the MDC Alliance won only 570 councillor seats out of nearly 2 000, just 28.6 percent, “you can understand why I think the MDC Alliance claim of a presidential victory with 2.6 million votes as being most unlikely and not credible”.
Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa today held his first “thank you” rally in Chitungwiza which was attended by thousands and insisted that he won the 30 July elections. He is therefore the country’s legitimate president and not Emmerson Mnangagwa who was declared the winner by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and when on to win Chamisa’s challenge in the Constitutional Court.
Writing on his personal blog, Cross said “it may not be to the liking of many, but I think it represents where we are and what might lie ahead”.
“Firstly, we have held another election, it was more open, democratic and acceptable than any other election I can recall, and I have been a player in all of them since 1980. It was contested, but when you appreciate that the MDC Alliance won only 570 Councillor seats out of nearly 2000 (28,6 per cent), you can understand why I think the MDC Alliance claim of a Presidential victory with 2.6 million votes as being most unlikely and not credible.
“Not one of these council elections have been challenged – how can they? They were secured under the close scrutiny of the tens of thousands of local Government candidates and their election agents – counted very carefully and then concluded at all 210 Control Centres run by ZEC with the Candidates and their Agents signing off on the results which were then announced at the Centres and at the National Control Centre in Harare.
“That is why the Constitutional Court unanimously decided that Emmerson Mnangagwa was elected as President. That is why they said the MDC Alliance had not proved their case, that is why they even awarded costs – normally a punitive measure. It must also be understood that he beat Nelson Chamisa by over 300 000 votes – nearly the majority that Morgan Tsvangirai beat Mr Mugabe in 2002. Thank goodness he got enough votes to avoid a runoff – that would have been a disaster for all of us – extending the uncertainty and the very real possibility of undoing all the positive things that were actually achieved in this election.
“Secondly, it is now clear that the international Community has accepted the above outcome – with reservations. But Theresa May’s comments in South Africa that Emmerson Mnangagwa was elected as President and then the German Minister of Development Cooperation announcing that their Government was again open for business with Zimbabwe, sealed the issue. This Government is being offered legitimacy – not on an open platter but on condition that the Government meets expectations and implements reforms to economic and political policies which will deliver a more stable and growing economy and a free and fair election in 2023.
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