MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti has raised a red flag
over what he claimed were Zec’s machinations to rig the poll by withholding 21%
of V11 forms which had official results from various polling stations.
“We have made it clear to Zec that if they do not announce
the results, we will do so ourselves because they are withholding the
publishing of 21% V11 forms,” Biti said.
“We collated the results from our agents at all polling
stations and what they reflected is nothing else except victory for MDC
Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa, and we demand that they make
those V11 forms public.”
In the morning, Chamisa claimed he was on course to become
the next President of the country.
“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 government,” he tweeted.
Biti said it was impossible that Zanu PF would win the
elections given the tallies they received from opposition agents at different
polling stations which he claimed confirmed a resounding victory for Chamisa.
“We have seen how we have won in those areas including
rural areas, we were leading, and now they want to hide on the Zanu PF usual
manipulation that they control rural areas. Anyone who is a student of history
must know that Zanu PF wants to hide on claiming victory in the rural areas
where they traditionally manipulate the rural vote. They are now trying to
manipulate the V11 forms,” he said.
Biti said the law was very clear that they cannot announce
results, but it was lawful to make a statement and to celebrate a victory from
the results they have seen on V11 forms.
“For us to celebrate is within the confines of our
political rights. So, the behaviour of our supporters is within the confines of
the law and our political freedoms,” he said as party supporters celebrated
outside the party offices.
Earlier, Biti had said the MDC Alliance would allow Zec to
do its job uninterrupted, but warned that they had many options to defend their
vote should they feel frustrated by the mother body.
“We have people waiting in queues guarding our votes and
they (Zec) are delaying to give us the V11 forms. So we are giving them enough
rope to hang themselves but they have to do the right thing,” Biti said.
“By today all the results have to be announced. We will let
the law take its course but if there is frustration we have options and those
options include Section 59 of the Constitution.”
In terms of the Electoral Act, Zec has to release results
within five days.
MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora yesterday warned
of possible public protests should Zec tamper with the results.
“If Zanu PF and Zec try to cheat, we are confident that the
people of Zimbabwe will react. How they react we have absolutely no idea nor do
we have any control. Therefore, we are just hoping that the people’s will be
respected,” he said.
MDC Alliance Harare provincial youth organising secretary,
Lovejoy Chitengu also told NewsDay that their party agents had collated the
results at all polling stations in the country, which showed victory for the
opposition.
“We have all the results which show that whereas our MPs
were losing in Zanu PF strongholds, our presidential candidate was winning
overally. We are not going to announce the percentages because it is the duty
of Zec, but we are prepared to die for this election. I urge our supporters to
join in celebration until Zec announces the results,” Chitengu said.
But, Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul
Mangwana described MDC Alliance’s victory celebrations as premature.
“Mad people are dancing whilst normal people are watching,
but all I can say is that they are exercising their human rights,” he said.
Mangwana dismissed reports also doing the rounds that Zanu
PF had won the election by 54%.
“We never made a declaration that we won. We do not have
the results. But, naturally we are expecting to win and we will wait for Zec to
announce the results. People have confidence in Zanu PF. MDC might have support
in cities, but they do not have support in rural areas,” Mangwana said.
Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba (pictured) told
the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) that her commission was ready
to engage police and cause the arrest of party leaders who prematurely announce
the results.
“It is the Zimbabwe Republic Police that has the mandate to
arrest anyone suspected of that offence. We only refer the complaint to them
and say please look at this complaint,” Chigumba said.
Self-exiled former Higher and Tertiary Education, Jonathan
Moyo claimed results posted outside polling stations across the country showed
plus/minus 60% of the vote for Chamisa, but alleged there were overnight
developments that “pointed to a plot to subvert the will of the people.”
“Mnangagwa was given the results posted outside polling
stations, in the wee hours. His camp was subdued throughout the night after it
received the disappointing polling station results. There was lots of
blame-pointing within the camp. A scramble for “Plan B” ensued!” Moyo alleged
on his Twitter page.
“As part of the scramble for “Plan B”, some Zec
commissioners, including its chairperson Chigumba, have been briefing selected
journalists and diplomats since early this morning to plant a staggering
backroom narrative that Mnangagwa ‘will win’ by between 53% and 55% of the
vote.”
He said a number of constituencies where Zanu PF won the
parliamentary seat, Chamisa carried the presidential vote.
“The information posted outside polling stations showed
Chamisa had well over two million votes. Something sinister appears to be
afoot!” Moyo alleged.
“Zec’s lack of transparency continues to blight this
election. It’s underhanded briefing to selected journalists and diplomats to
announce a result before it has received votes from six provinces deserves
urgent attention of election observers and the voters to protect their vote!” Newsday
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