Admin l Wednesday, August 01, 2018
ZIMBABWE – The ruling Zanu-PF has secured majority seat in parliament in the general election in Zimbabwe. The Zanu-PF secured 109 seats in parliament.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secured 41 seats with 58 seats yet to be declared by the electoral body, but with the result, it appeared that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party is set for victory in the election.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission(ZEC) has promised to release the final tally of public votes within five days.
MDC leader Nelson Chamisa today accused his opponents of trying to steal the general election, following the release of the official figures by the electoral commission.
Manuel Domingos Augusto, the Angolan foreign minister and SADC representative, called the elections “a political watershed in Zimbabwe’s history, as they may open a new chapter leading towards socio-economic recovery and consolidation of democracy”.
He said efforts should be made to allow the millions in Zimbabwe’s diaspora, barred from voting abroad, to take part in future elections.
He also referred to criticism of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for the late release of the voters’ roll, as well as bias toward the ruling party by state media and traditional leaders.
He urged anyone with grievances to refrain from violence.
ZEC boss, Priscilla Chigumba told reporters on Tuesday that the atmosphere around the polling “remained peaceful”, and that the commission had not received any major complaints about how the election was conducted.
She said she was confident there was no “cheating” and the commission would respect the will of Zimbabweans: “We will not steal their choice of leaders, we will not subvert their will.”
If no presidential candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will be held on 8 September.
