ConCourt declares July 31 elections “free, fair and credible”

The Constitutional Court today declared the July 31 elections free, fair and credible, paving way for President Robert Mugabe’s inauguration on Thursday.

The judgement was delivered by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku who dismissed an application by the MDC-T challenging the presidential results with costs despite the fact that the party had withdrawn from the case.

The judgement, according to Chidyausiku, was unanimous.

MDC-T launched a court appeal in which they were seeking an order compelling the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release election material so that they could prepare their challenge of the presidential results.

Judgement in the matter was reserved by High Court Judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu and the development prompted the party to withdraw their petition claiming that they were not likely to get a fair hearing.

However, Chidyausiku last week summoned lawyers representing MDC-T to a court hearing saying that according to Section 93 of the constitution, a presidential petition should be brought to its finality even if some of the parties interested decide to withdraw.

Read part the judgement: “The application is dismissed with costs.

Further, the Constitutional Court in terms of Section 93 of the constitution of Zimbabwe makes the following determination: that the Zimbabwe presidential election held on the 31st of July 2013 was in accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe and the Electoral Act; that the said election was free, fair and credible.

“Consequently, the result of that election is a true reflection of the will of the people of Zimbabwe who voted.”

The Constitutional Court ruled that “President Robert Gabriel Mugabe was duly elected President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and is hereby declared winner of that election. Detailed reasons for judgement will be given in due course.”

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