Zimbabwe's new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, will remain in office following a decision by his country’s courts that upheld his election.
In a unanimous decision, the nine judges of Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court ruled Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had no basis to challenge the results.
“Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is duly declared the winner of the presidential elections held on the 30th of July 2018,” Chief Justice Luke Malaba declared.
Malaba called accusations of "mammoth theft and fraud" from the MDC "bold and unsubstantiated.”
Mnangagwa’s inauguration will occur on Sunday, according to Reuters.
This was Zimbabwe’s first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted from power last year. In early August, violence engulfed the streets of the capital, Harare, after election officials delayed the release of the results, leaving three people dead after the military intervened.
The MDC claimed the ballots had been altered after the results showed Mnangagwa won 50.7 percent of the vote, according to BBC. Candidates only need 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff election. Mnangagwa's victory was incredibly slim: he only won by 30,000 votes.
Both men reacted to the ruling on Twitter.
Mnangagwa said he was “not surprised” by the court’s decision and advocated for unity.
We have independent courts and we promised to respect their decision. Just as with the insights received from the international monitors, we will accept and implement all recommendations to further improve our democratic process. (2/4)
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) August 24, 2018
I once again reiterate my call for peace and unity above all. Nelson Chamisa, my door is open and my arms are outstretched, we are one nation, and we must put our nation first. Let us all now put our differences behind us. It is time to move forward together. (4/4)
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) August 24, 2018
“Nelson Chamisa, my door is open and my arms are outstretched, we are one nation, and we must put our nation first. Let us all now put our differences behind us,” he wrote.
Chamisa wasn’t in a kumbaya mood, but he said he and his party will respect the results.
Our unstinting belief in the rule of law means we shall not only respect the verdict of the Bench but we shall also doggedly pursue all constitutionally permissible avenues to ensure that the sovereign will of the people is protected and guaranteed.
— MDC Zimbabwe (@mdczimbabwe) August 24, 2018
“Our unstinting belief in the rule of law means we shall not only respect the verdict of the Bench but we shall also doggedly pursue all constitutionally permissible avenues to ensure that the sovereign will of the people is protected and guaranteed,” he tweeted.
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