ZIMBABWE: Opposition pleads for swift high court decision on release of presidential election results

Record ID: 785056

  • Title: ZIMBABWE: Opposition pleads for swift high court decision on release of presidential election results
  • Date: 8th April 2008
  • Summary: (W3) HARARE, ZIMBABWE (APRIL 8, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HIGH COURT EXTERIORS MEDIA WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION LAWYER, GEORGE CHIKUMBIRIKE SAYING: "The matter will be resuming in the afternoon." ONLOOKERS
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Zimbabwe
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Topics: Legal System
  • Reuters ID: LVAB2LGPWURWC1JN3DA087HR3NRZ
  • Story Text: Zimbabwe's High Court ruled on Tuesday (April 8) that it would treat the opposition's application for the immediate release of presidential election results urgently and began hearing arguments in the case.
    Legal proceedings are already in their fourth day and could drag further, delaying the end of a 10-day stalemate that has dashed hopes of a quick answer as to whether President Robert Mugabe lost the March 29 vote or will face a runoff.
    Opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he has won the election outright and should be declared president. Mugabe's party is pushing for a further delay in issuing results pending a recount.
    MDC lawyer Alec Muchadehama told the court after the judge's ruling that the matter was urgent and that the High Court had the power to order the release of the results.
    Muchadehama argued that the recount sought by the ruling ZANU-PF could only happen after results are announced.
    Judge Tendai Uchena said he found the opposition's application to be "urgent" and that the case should now proceed.
    Zimbabwe electoral commission lawyer, George Chikumbirike said "The matter will be resuming in the afternoon."
    Zimbabweans, many reduced to misery by the meltdown of their once-healthy economy, are waiting to see whether the election will end the 28-year-rule of Mugabe or lead to a re-run between him and Tsvangirai.
    Tsvangirai accuses 84-year-old Mugabe of planning violence to overturn results of the presidential and parliamentary votes. Long legal delays could also give Mugabe more time to organise a fightback for any runoff vote.
    ZANU-PF and independent monitors' projections show that although Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in the presidential vote, he failed to win an absolute majority and will be forced into a runoff.
    Electoral rules say this must be held three weeks after the release of results.
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