Zimbabwe election challenge to be heard next week

Zimbabwe’s 30 July election challenge filed by Movement for Democratic Change Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa will be heard on Wednesday next week, 22 August.

Chamisa is challenging Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory and wants to be declared the winner or fresh elections to be held.

Mnangagwa was declared the winner after polling nearly 2.5 million votes but Chamisa who was reported to have won 2.1 million votes says he actually got 2.6 million votes.

Parliamentary watchdog Veritas Zimbabwe says the Constitutional Court has several options it can make.

It can declare a winner, which means it can confirm Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s declaration or declare another candidate the winner. In this case the winner has to be sworn in within 48 hours which means before the end of this month.

It can invalidate the election, in which case a fresh election must be held within 60 days. This would mean a fresh election with 23, or more, or less, candidates rather than a run-off between the two main contenders.

It can make any other order it considers just and appropriate.

Veritas says this is very broad, and could cover:  ordering a run-off election, if the court finds that none of the candidates in fact gained 50 per cent or more of the votes or ordering a recount of the votes, if the applicant has asked for this.

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