Runner-up in Zimbabwe’s recent presidential election, Nelson Chamisa, has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of orchestrating an electoral coup.
The head of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change has characterized the official election results from Wednesday as fraudulent, pointing out that this viewpoint is shared by international observers.
The emergence of disputes surrounding these elections is not unforeseen. During a press briefing, Chamisa, who secured 44% of the votes compared to Mnangagwa’s 52.6%, alleged that the electoral authority had disseminated inaccurate results.
However, Chamisa has yet to present substantiated evidence for his claims, with a one-week window open for him to bring his case before the court.
Chamisa asserted that Zimbabwe would experience change, regardless of the desire of President Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF party; he declared his unwillingness to wait for another five years.
Mnangagwa has disregarded international condemnation of the election and maintains that the electoral process in Zimbabwe is equitable.
While certain observers, including those from southern Africa, have noted that the election did not meet international benchmarks or the criteria established by Zimbabwe’s own constitution.