The Guardian: Zimbab-we’s main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, has refused to accept a court ruling that upheld Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory in last month’s presidential elections.
In his first comments since the country’s highest court overturned the opposition’s challenge to have the results annulled, Chamisa vowed yesterday to lead “peaceful protests”.
“I have a legitimate claim that I am supposed to lead the people of Zimbabwe,” the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said. “Yes, judgment has been made, but as far as we are concerned we have a view that is contrary to the view of the constitutional court.
“The court’s decision is not the people’s decision. The people who voted do not believe in [Mnangagwa]. We have got a clear majority.”
In a verdict widely predicted by analysts, Chief Justice Luke Malaba strongly criticised the MDC’s case and upheld Mnangagwa’s win.
Robert Mugabe’s successor as leader of the ruling Zanu-PF party won the election on 30 July with 50.8% of the vote – just enough to meet the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off against Chamisa, who scored 44.3%. The elections were largely judged to be free of the violence that had characterised previous elections in the country.