Zimbabwe Elections: Chamisa Claims ‘Resounding’ Win
Zimbabwe opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said 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 had continued through the night after a strong turnout in Zimbabwe’s first election without Mugabe, who was ousted by the military last year after 37 years in office.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, ex-president Mugabe’s former right-hand man in the ruling Zanu-PF party, had faced off against Chamisa of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) in the historic vote.
Officials overseeing the polls, in which a record number of candidates stood, said many polling stations had queues and estimated that average turnout was around 75 percent 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.
we are waiting a day this to happen in Uganda
I wish chamisa victory