The Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe yesterday unanimously dismissed the legal challenge by MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa which alleged Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) rigged the poll in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba who announced the Judgement said the applicant had failed to prove fraud accusations saying the allegations were generalised and lacked specificity.
“The application is dismissed with costs … Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is duly declared the winner of the presidential elections held on the 30th of July 2018,”Chief Justice Malaba said.
The legal challenge presented by Chamisa’s lead attorney Thabani Mpofu cited a catalogue of irregularities, from ballot stuffing, ghost polling stations, to instances at voting centres where there were more ballots cast than registered voters.
“There has been a massive doctoring of evidence,” Mpofu told court on Wednesday.
In an Interview with News of the South, MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora said they will respect the court’s ruling whether or not they agree with it but they will still sought other meansm
“As the MDC we are going to respect ruling of the courts.“This is the highest court of the land and interms of legal challenge this is where it ends but we will advise our supporters on the route we will take after the National Council meeting on Wednesday,” said Mwonzora.
He added that there are still other options for the MDC Alliance which include peaceful demonstrations as provided for by the constitution.
President Mnangagwa, tweeting shortly after the ruling said he was not surprised by the court’s decision and made an attempt to reach out to Chamisa calling for unity and peace.
“Nelson Chamisa, my door is open and my arms are outstretched, we are one nation, and we must put our nation first. Let us all now put our differences behind us. It is time to move forward together,” he said.
President Mnangagwa won the 30 July presidential poll by a narrow margin of 50.8 percent which was revised by ZEC down to 50.67percent.
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