Zimbabwe’s Opposition Plans Alternative Presidential Inauguration For Its Leader

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Zimbabwe’s main opposition party has announced it will hold a mock inauguration to name its leader Nelson Chamisa as the country’s president this week.

Chamisa, of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had narrowly lost to Emmerson Mnangagwa of ZANU-PF party in Zimbabwe’s first election since the ousting of long-time ruler Robert Mugabe last year.

Mnangagwa won the election with 50.8 percent of the vote — just enough to meet the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a run-off against Chamisa, who scored 44.3 percent.

The MDC claims the July 30 election was rigged and its legal bid to have the result overturned due to alleged electoral fraud and irregularities was rejected by the constitutional court.

“He will be recognised as the legitimate president of Zimbabwe by his party and the people of Zimbabwe following resolutions of the national council,” MDC spokesman Nkululeko Sibanda told journalists.

“Resolutions will be passed to recognise his victory and state it publicly,” he insisted.