Defiant Chamisa pledges to fight poll results
Zimbabwe opposition leader claims his party won 200,000 more votes than the official count showed
ZIMBABWE faced further uncertainty yesterday as its opposition leader refused to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa’s election victory and riot police tried to break up his press conference in an apparent effort to intimidate him.
Mr Mnangagwa, 75, the presidentelect, narrowly won Zimbabwe’s first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted, with 50.8 per cent of the vote, the electoral authorities said. But Nelson Chamisa, the MDC Alliance leader, claimed to have won about 200,000 more votes than the official count showed and demanded Mr Mnangagwa concede defeat and resign.
“Mr Mnangagwa lost this election and he knows it,” Mr Chamisa told reporters in his first public appearance since the results were announced. “We will pursue all means necessary legal and constitutional to protect the people’s vote,” he added.
He claimed that he had won “around 2.3million votes” but said he would not yet release the evidence that he said proved the figure because it could play into the hands of his opponents.
Under Zimbabwean law, candidates have nine days after the release of results to lodge a legal challenge in court.
Mr Mnangagwa flatly rejected the demand and called on Mr Chamisa to join him in “calling for peace and unity” in the wake of the vote.
“The constitution of the country as well as domestic electoral law says the Zimbabwe election commission at the conclusion of the plebiscite pronounces the one who has won the election. And it has been announced that I have won the election.”
Mr Mnangagwa, who has sought to rebrand himself as a democrat and reformer since he overthrew Mr Mugabe, his former ally, in a military coup in November, said Mr Chamisa was free to challenge the results in court.
The continuing standoff will stoke concerns about further violence between the authorities and MDC Alliance supporters.
The streets of Harare have been largely calm since at least six people were killed in clashes between soldiers firing live rounds and rioting Chamisa supporters in Harare on Wednesday.
But security forces have shut the opposition’s headquarters and arrested at least 18 Chamisa supporters.
The level of tension in Harare became clear as riot police attempted to close down Mr Chamisa’s press conference. Between 30 and 50 riot officers banged batons on their shields and shouted “leave now” as they attempted to remove journalists from the Bronte Garden Hotel, only to hurriedly retreat when reporters attempted to interview their commanding officer. The police commander later told an MDC lawyer that he had believed the event was an unsanctioned political rally.
Late last night police were reported to have surrounded the house of the mother of Tendai Biti, a senior MDC MP who they have accused of inciting Wednesday’s violence. Mr Biti is believed to be in hiding.