Tag Archives: Nelson Chamisa

Politics, Regional

Zimbabwe: losing candidate Nelson Chamisa calls for fresh vote  

Burnett Munthali

Zimbabwe’s main opposition on Tuesday called for fresh elections after its presidential candidate lost to incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa in a vote it lashed as flawed and illegal.

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) urged the African Union (AU) and southern Africa’s regional bloc to help mediate a solution to the crisis that followed last Wednesday’s vote.

“Zimbabwe needs a fresh and broad and proper election to exit the current crisis,” the CCC’s deputy spokesperson Ostallos Siziba told a press conference in Harare.

Mnangagwa, 80, won a second term with 52.6 percent against 44 percent for the CCC’s Nelson Chamisa, 45, according to official results announced late Saturday by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

International observers said the vote fell short of democratic standards.

Balloting was troubled by delays, caused by the printing of ballot papers, which forced voting to spill into a second unprecedented day.

The opposition said the poll was marred by rigging and voter suppression and claimed victory.

Mnangagwa has rebuffed criticism saying the polling “demonstrated that we are a mature democracy.”

He challenged those who contested his re-election to go to court.

“Those who feel the race was not run properly should know where to go to,” he said.

Siziba appealed for African help in finding a way out of the crisis.

“The solution lies in calling upon our African brothers and those in the region, particularly SADC (and) the African Union, to help us to facilitate, to meditate, to scaffold and more importantly to guarantee a process that will lead our return to legitimacy,” he said.

The vote has been watched across southern Africa as a test of support for Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF party, whose 43-year rule has been accompanied by a moribund economy and charges of authoritarianism.

Observer missions from the European Union, the Commonwealth and Southern African Development Community (SADC) listed a number of concerns, including the banning of opposition rallies, issues with the voter registration rolls, biased state media coverage and voter intimidation.

It was a rare rebuke from the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) whose observers usually endorse polls in the member countries.

But some member countries, including regional powerhouse South Africa, have since congratulated Mnangagwa on his re-election.

On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all sides to “peacefully settle any disputes through established legal and institutional channels” and resolve disputes “in a fair, expeditious, and transparent manner to ensure that the results are a true reflection of the will of the people.”

The CCC did not rule out challenging the results in court, with Siziba saying the party was going to “employ all the necessary measures at the right time”.

Lifestyle

Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa, Kasukuwere, & Chamisa aim for presidency

Maravi Post Reporter

Zimbabwe’s president, the country’s main opposition leader and a former ruling party stalwart exiled following a coup are all seeking to run in the presidential election scheduled for August. The three registered to run on Wednesday, and the national electoral agency is to announce the final list of confirmed candidates.

The August 23rd vote is expected to be another closely watched affair in a country with a history of violent and disputed elections. Along with the presidential election, Zimbabweans will also vote to decide the makeup of the 350-seat parliament and close to 2,000 local council positions on the same date.

If no presidential candidate wins a clear majority in the first round, a runoff will be held on Oct. 2.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling ZANU-PF party is seeking what would be the 80-year-old’s final five-year term. He is expected to be closely challenged by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, whom he narrowly beat in a disputed election in 2018.

Saviour Kasukuwere, a former Cabinet minister and top ruling party official who fled to neighboring South Africa after a 2017 coup that deposed longtime leader Robert Mugabe and brought Mnangagwa to power, also registered as a candidate. It was not immediately known if Kasukuwere had returned to Zimbabwe.

“The process is going very well. I am happy that Zimbabwe is now a mature democracy,” Mnangagwa told reporters at the nomination court. He appealed for peaceful elections, even as he and his party have been accused of adopting repressive tactics to stifle any opposition to their rule.

Chamisa, the 45-year-old leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change, said he was confident of victory, but alleged there were voters’ roll irregularities and repeated his claims that his supporters have been intimidated.

Source: Africanews

Politics, Regional

Zimbabwe opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’ US$120,000 donation raises eyebrows

Chisomo Phiri

HARARE- MaraviPost)-Opposition Citizens Coalition for change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is under pressure to account for US$122, 300 donated by sympathisers for the purchase of his bullet proof off-road vehicle.

This came after his motorcade suffered several attacks from suspected Zanu PF supporters and State security agents in what was also seen as a threat to his life.

Nelson Chamisa

Individuals claiming to have supported the initiative since the page which was used to mobilize the donations went live 10 months ago, are demanding updates on what has become of the donated money or the vehicle, putting into sharp focus transparency and accountability around the initiative.

Asked to confirm whether or not the vehicle had been delivered, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the vehicle has not yet delivered.

She referred further questions to organisers of the initiative, Citizens Action for Change also known as the Citizens Organisers.

“The Citizens’ Organisers are seized with the matter. They are your best port of call for detailed information,” Mahere said.

Citizens Action for change had not responded to questions sent on Thursday August 18,2022 .

Attempts to get a comment from the GoFundMe initiative contact person only identified as Bhasvi were also fruitless.

CCC interim treasurer David Coltart on Sunday August 21,2022 said the initiative was private and refused he was involved.

“This was a private initiative and so as interim treasurer of the CCC, I have not been involved at all.

“I am not sure whether it has been bought. You have to ask CCC president Nelson Chamisa’s staff that question,” Coltart said.

The funding, raised from well-wishers using GoFundMe, currently stands at US$122 300 from 3 100 donations, which averaged US$39,45 each.

Of the amount, the highest donation of US$42 500 was made by one Tino Mudzekenyedzi, followed by Henry Munashe’s US$1 450.

Regional

Zimbabwe: Chaos at opposition party rally turns deadly

Maravi Post Reporter

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A chaotic scene at an opposition party rally in Kwekwe, central Zimbabwe, on Sunday turned deadly with reports of at least one death.

Local media also reported of some 10 others sustaining injuries in skirmishes at an rally ground.

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters were reportedly attacked by a group of men armed with spears, machetes, iron bars and stones.

Party leader Nelson Chamisa was forced to abandon his address at the rally, according to reports.

Chamisa’s party leadership blamed supporters of President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the violence but that has been rejected by the ruling party.

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There are crucial by-elections planned for March 26 but there are concerns of violence spreading ahead of these votes.

Some 28 parliamentary and 122 council seats are up for grabs and the by-elections are could test the ruling Zanu-PF party’s strength ahead of next year’s general elections.

On Saturday police used teargas and water cannons to disperse another CCC rally that had been permitted by the High Court.

Opposition parties have already been threatened of being crushed by the country’s vice-president.

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Kenya: President Kenyatta endorses Odinga to succeed him

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds