Former opposition, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), leader Nelson Chamisa has expressed hope that the concerns surrounding the disputed outcome of the August 2023 general elections will be “addressed with urgency and seriousness.”
The opposition leader’s remarks came as he outlined his continued efforts to resolve the electoral dispute through peaceful means.
According to the electoral body, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Emmerson Mnangagwa, the leader of the ruling party ZANU-PF, secured a second term as president after winning the 23 August general elections, with 52.6% to Chamisa’s 44%, amid criticism from observers who said the polls were falling short of the expected standards.
Addressing journalists today in Harare, Chamisa said: “following the shambolic and disputed August 2023 elections, we held nationwide consultations with you, the citizens, and all other relevant stakeholders, on the ways and means to resolve the electoral fraud.
“You, the citizens of Zimbabwe, are very clear and firm on the position that the elections were improperly conducted, indeterminate and produced a manipulated outcome.”
“We are acutely aware of the urgency of this matter and more importantly that there can never be any talk of 2028 or a viable and stable future for this country without resolving August 2023, the broken past, and disputed politics,” Chamisa said.
According to Chamisa, the Zimbabwean people are “very clear and firm” in their position that the elections were “improperly conducted, indeterminate and produced a manipulated outcome.”
He stated that, this position is also supported by regional and international observer missions, including from SADC, the African Union, the European Union, and the Commonwealth.
“This position is supported and confirmed by SADC, the African Union, the European Union, the Commonwealth, COMESA, and all other intergovernmental organizations which deployed election observer missions to Zimbabwe.
“There is no other election in the history of elections in this country that has invited resounding and universal condemnation as the August 2023 elections. This matter must be resolved so that the country can have proper elections that produce a proper government from the citizens,” he said.
Chamisa called on SADC, the African Union, and the international community to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the electoral dispute.
He reiterated that he is committed to “committed to a peaceful resolution of disputes and intend to exhaust all available peaceful remedies. As you are all aware, millions of you agree with this approach.”
