My conscience is clear says Zimbabwe Electoral Commission boss

The chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Priscilla Chigumba says her conscience is clear, those who still dispute the 30 July election results are just “sore losers”.

The ZEC has been accused of rigging the elections in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Chigumba was booed by opposition legislators when she went to Parliament to conduct elections for Speaker.

She told the Standard: “People are entitled to their opinions and are free to demonstrate as the constitution allows for freedom of expression.

“However, it is worrying to observe that some people still believe that their party’s victory was stolen by the commission despite due process being followed.

“The commission is convinced that it had strongly rebuffed evidence to the allegations raised by the applicant, who unfortunately, could not back up his claim to the satisfaction of the Constitutional Court.

“Their behaviour can best be explained as political posturing meant to ingratiate themselves with their supporters for reasons best known to them.”

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa insists that he won the elections though he lost the case in the country’s highest court, the Constitutional Court.

Only yesterday, Chamisa told his followers: “WiNNERS QUIT NOT. We remain focused on the goal to transform our beloved country, revamping its politics and leadership standards to leave a legacy and make a mark. We need a revolution of morals, resetting of values and reformation of character. We lead differently!!#Godisinit”

Chigumba, however, said: “Our conscience is clear. As I said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and expression.

“However, I think it is grossly unfair to hurl unsubstantiated accusations at someone under the guise of exercising freedom of expression.”

Chamisa is taking his case to the African Commission for Human and People’s Rights but legal experts say this is purely for sentimental reasons because if the commission makes findings that are different from the Constitutional Court judgment, those findings will not reverse the judgment of the Concourt.

“The overwhelming view is that the African Commission is a quasi-judicial body which makes recommendations not judgments which are not in themselves legally binding upon the State concerned,” fact checking organisations Zimfact says.

“So the move by the MDC Alliance will at best generate recommendations which can be useful in pushing ahead the debate for electoral reforms, the legal experts say.”

Chigumba says those unhappy with the current law must start working on changing the law.

“Those who are unhappy with the current law are encouraged to work towards changing it now so that it accurately reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people and so that the electoral law will never again be the root cause of polarisation in our electoral processes,” she said.

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