Zimbabwe electoral stalemate brings country to brink of crisis
HARARE: A power vacuum emanating from disputed poll outcomes, subsequent legal challenges and a mounting crackdown on opposition figures has left Zimbabwe teetering on the brink of a fatal crisis similar to that which bedevilled the country a decade ago.
The cancellation of the inauguration of president-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa, which was scheduled for today in the capital Harare, is the latest predicament as Zimbabwe stumbles in the wake of a largely peaceful election held at the end of July.
A Constitutional Court challenge by the MDC Alliance filed on Friday is seeking the annulment of Mnangagwa’s election on allegations that the beleaguered Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) rigged the poll in the incumbent’s favour.
According to results, Mngangagwa polled 50.8% of the votes compared with the 44.3% secured by the MDC Alliance’s Nelson Chamisa.
The major opposition party claims its leader won the hotly contested presidential poll.
Furthermore, the MDC’S court challenge demands that the chief elections officer publish a declaration that recognises Chamisa as the new president in the Government Gazette.
“As an alternative, we seek that there be another election which complies with the dictates of the law,” advocate Thabani Mpofu, leader of the party’s legal team, said.
The Constitutional Court has 14 days within which to make a determination on the challenge.
Yesterday, the politburo and central committee of Mnangagwa’s Zanu-pf held marathon meetings to prepare the party’s own legal team to challenge the constitutional court petition by the MDC Alliance.
Simon Khaya Moyo, Zanu-pf spokesperson, did not respond to calls and was said to be involved in the series of meetings.
The ZEC also would not comment, saying the matter was sub judice, but sources say the election body is ready to defend its conduct of the poll.
In another twist to the stalemate, Zanu-pf members who were declared winners in the legislative poll have frowned on the latest gridlock that defers their swearing in.
Zanu-pf polled 145 seats to the MDC’S 64.
The president must induct the legislators but the court challenge means that not only is Mnangagwa’s inauguration stalled, but their taking oath of office has also been placed on hold.
At the 60 000-seater national sports stadium where the inauguration was to be held, public construction workers on Friday were seen dismantling tents that had been erected to accommodate local and international dignitaries.
By 6pm the podium had also been taken apart.
Regional leaders and several heads of state drawn from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, mainly from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia had confirmed their attendance.
Zambia, too, has been sucked into the crisis after it deported opposition stalwart Tendai Biti despite a court order blocking his expulsion.
The US said the move was “disheartening” given the courage Zambia showed in sheltering thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighters from Rhodesian aggression in the days of the independence struggle.
“We will be discussing this matter with Zambia’s leaders and reviewing certain aspects of our co-operation with the Zambian government,” Heather Nauert, Department of State spokesperson said during the week.
Biti is facing charges of violating the Electoral Act, which prohibits the unofficial or false declaration of election results.
He earlier pronounced Chamisa the winner of the election.
The declaration is blamed for the demonstrations that rocked Harare but were eventually quelled after the army opened fire and killed at least six civilians.
There has been international outrage of the use of force by the country’s military, which has also been accused of brutal attacks on opposition officials after the election.
The more than 100 fast food and retail South African companies operating in Zimbabwe have become increasingly sceptical over any prospects of economic improvements in the country. – CAJ News