Zimbabwe opposition leader says winning election ‘resoundingly’

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Zimbabwe opposition leader says winning election ‘resoundingly’

8:34 CAT | 31 Jul 2018

Nelson Chamisa following casting his vote in Harare on Monday. Photo: Twitter: @StarfmZimbabwe

Zimbabwe opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said on Tuesday he was “winning resoundingly” as votes were counted in the first election since long-time ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted from power.

Chamisa, who has raised allegations of voter fraud during the campaign, said that his MDC party had results from 10 000 polling stations.

“Winning resoundingly … We’ve done exceedingly well,” he said on Twitter after the landmark vote on Monday, adding “We are ready to form the next (government).”

Counting was still under way after a strong turnout in Zimbabwe’s first election since long-ruling leader Robert Mugabe was ousted from power last year.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, ex-president Mugabe’s former right-hand man in the ruling ZANU-PF party, faced off Monday against Chamisa of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) in the historic vote.

Officials overseeing the presidential and parliamentary polls, in which a record number of candidates stood, said many polling stations had queues and estimated that average turnout was around 75 per cent one hour before polls closed on Monday evening.

“It is our view that the high voter turnout is indicative of sound voter education and publicity,” said Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairwoman Priscilla Chigumba at a media briefing in Harare late Monday.

Previously-banned European Union election observers, present for the first time in years, said participation appeared high but warned of possible “shortcomings” in the vote process.

Winning resoundingly…We now have results from the majority of the over 10 000 polling stations. We’ve done exceedingly well. Awaiting ZEC to perform their constitutional duty to officially announce the people’s election results and we are ready to form the next gvt.#Godisinit

— Nelson Chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) July 31, 2018