Charles Kwaramba, a lawyer for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) told
AFP the party was challenging constituencies won by the ruling Zimbabwe
African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) through violence and
intimidation.
“Our law firm has handled about 40 and the other lawyers have filed a total
of 20 which brings the total to 60,” Kwaramba said.
“We are fighting a lot of issues. There was a lot of malpractice in most
rural areas. There was violence, intimidation,” he said adding that
traditional chiefs and war veterans had been used to intimidate opposition
supporters.
“We have filed these applications on behalf of the MDC. In terms of the
electoral act these cases must be heard within six months.”
ZANU-PF lost parliamentary control to the opposition for the first time in
the March 29 legislative vote with the MDC and its splinter faction winning
a combined 109 seats to just 97 for the ruling party.
As the two parties traded vote-rigging allegations, the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission announced this weekend it would recount the results of 23
constituencies, the majority of which had been won by the MDC.
The MDC launched a court bid in response to challenge the recount, planned
for Saturday, which in theory could lead to President Robert Mugabe’s ruling
party regaining control of parliament.
The court battle comes amid rising tensions over the outcome of the
presidential poll, with the MDC calling for Zimbabweans to hold a general
strike from Tuesday until the long-awaited results are released.
National police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said officers and soldiers were
being deployed throughout the country in anticipation of the strike, which
he said was an attempt by the MDC to cause mayhem
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