Zimbabwe’s ruling party wins majority in parliament

HARARE: The presidential candidate for Zimbabwe’s main opposition accused the ruling ZANU-PF of trying to steal the general election after official figures gave President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party a majority in parliament.

Nelson Chamisa, 40, and the 75-year-old Mnangagwa were the main contenders in Monday’s vote, the first since Robert Mugabe was forced to resign after a de facto coup in November after nearly 40 years in power.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s results showed Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF cruising to a big majority after picking up 109 seats against 41 for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Another 58 seats are yet to be declared.

Results of the presidential poll are expected by Saturday.

On his official Twitter feed, Chamisa yesterday accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of releasing the parliamentary results first to prepare Zimbabweans for a Mnangagwa victory.

“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,” Chamisa said.

Foreign observers, including the European Union, who have been monitoring the elections for the first time since 2002, will issue their verdict on Monday’s vote.

Zimbabwe was once one of Africa’s most promising economies but under Mugabe’s rule became tainted by corruption, mismanagement and diplomatic isolation.

Its population of 13 million is struggling amid shortages of foreign currency, unemployment above 80% and lack of foreign investment.

In the capital Harare, many people went about their usual daily grind, including queuing up for scarce cash outside banks.

The House of Assembly of Parliament has 210 seats and ZANUPF would need to win 30 more to have a two-thirds majority that would allow it to change the constitution at will.