Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday started hearing a challenge to last month’s presidential election result.
Hundreds of people gathered around Television screens to watch the legal battle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the opposition leader’s lawyers.
Riot police mounted a blockade on roads leading to the court in the capital Harare to prevent a possible rioting.
Lawyers have been presenting their preliminary arguments in the case which has attracted a lot of attention.
The opposition MDC alleges electoral fraud and rigging in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, declared President Mnangagwa winner of the historic election. He obtained 2.46 million votes against 2.15 million for the opposition candidate.
The MDC is also seeking fresh election or a declaration that Chamisa won the July 30 poll. But the ruling party, Zanu-PF is rejecting these claims in its statement in opposition.
ConCourt petition hearing….Out and About in Harare CBD pic.twitter.com/AaVa8o7pwD
— Zimpapers Images (@ZimpapersI) August 22, 2018
Lawyers for Mr Mnangagwa are asking the court to throw out the case of the opposition. In his statement in opposition, Mnangagwa described Mr Chamisa’s behaviour as childish.
The constitutional court takes 14 days to hear and rule on such petitions.
The Court can uphold the result, declare a new winner or order a fresh election within 60 days. Its decision is final though.
Source: Africafeeds.com
