News / National
D-day for Zimbabwe's election challenge
10 Aug 2018 at 10:04hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's opposition MDC Alliance is expected to present its legal challenge to last week's presidential election result.
The MDC Alliance has to submit its case to the Constitutional Court on Friday to comply with a deadline under Zimbabwean law.
A lawyer for defeated presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa said the party had all the evidence it needed to mount a credible, sustainable case.
The opposition party said the election was marred by "mammoth theft and fraud".
However, the electoral commission says there was "absolutely no skulduggery".
The official winner of the election, President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa - who is known as "the crocodile" because of his political cunning, has called for unity, peace and reconciliation.
The court must rule on any challenge within 14 days.
Meanwhile, the US has said it is gravely concerned by reports of the detention and beating of opposition activists since the election.
It comes after the arrest of top MDC Alliance politician Tendai Biti, who was deported on Thursday by Zambia after the government there rejected his request for asylum.
Prosecutors say he falsely declared Mr Chamisa the winner of the election, and encouraged his supporters to damage property during protests against the election results
Mr Biti was granted bail and is expected back in court on Friday.
The MDC Alliance has to submit its case to the Constitutional Court on Friday to comply with a deadline under Zimbabwean law.
A lawyer for defeated presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa said the party had all the evidence it needed to mount a credible, sustainable case.
The opposition party said the election was marred by "mammoth theft and fraud".
However, the electoral commission says there was "absolutely no skulduggery".
The official winner of the election, President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa - who is known as "the crocodile" because of his political cunning, has called for unity, peace and reconciliation.
The court must rule on any challenge within 14 days.
Meanwhile, the US has said it is gravely concerned by reports of the detention and beating of opposition activists since the election.
It comes after the arrest of top MDC Alliance politician Tendai Biti, who was deported on Thursday by Zambia after the government there rejected his request for asylum.
Prosecutors say he falsely declared Mr Chamisa the winner of the election, and encouraged his supporters to damage property during protests against the election results
Mr Biti was granted bail and is expected back in court on Friday.
Source - BBC
