ZIMBABWE: Court to give verdict on election challenge on Friday

 Zimbabwe’s top court will on Friday rule on whether to uphold or overturn President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s July 30 election victory following a challenge by his main rival, the Chief Justice said on Wednesday. Crowds gathered around screens outside the court to watch as lawyers representing Mnangagwa and the main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa argued their […]

 Zimbabwe’s top court will on Friday rule on whether to uphold or overturn President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s July 30 election victory following a challenge by his main rival, the Chief Justice said on Wednesday.

Crowds gathered around screens outside the court to watch as lawyers representing Mnangagwa and the main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa argued their case before nine judges.

The lawyer of the opposition MDC Alliance Thabani Mpofu told the court there had been a massive cover-up and doctoring of results and he wanted to see President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory overturned.

The governing party’s lawyer, Thembinkosi Magwaliba, and the electoral commission said the opposition had failed to produce any evidence of fraud.

President Mnangagwa, who avoided a run-off election by taking 50.6% of the vote, has urged the court to throw out the opposition challenge.