Harare tense as court hears poll challenge

The capital of Zimbabwe was tense and under tight security yesterday as the Constitutional Court began to hear the main opposition party’s challenge to the results of July’s presidential election. Police barricaded the streets around the court in central Harare.

Election officials say President Emmerson Mnangagwa won with 50.8 per cent of the vote on July 30, only just avoiding a run-off. The opposition wants its candidate, Nelson Chamisa, to be declared the winner or a fresh vote to be called.