Zimbabwe: Presidential inauguration postponed amid legal appeal /update 9

Event

The inauguration ceremony for presidential election winner President Emmerson Mnangagwa, originally set to take place in Harare on Sunday, August 12, has been postponed. The delay is in response to a legal appeal filed by opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa on Friday, August 10, challenging the July 30 election results. According to Zimbabwe's justice minister, a new inauguration date will not be fixed until the case has been resolved and the Constitutional Court has delivered a ruling, which must be done within 14 days of when the appeal is filed. Protests, increased security measures, and associated transportation disruptions are possible in the coming days. 

Context

On August 3, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared incumbent President Mnangagwa winner of the July 30 presidential election. According to the results, Mnangagwa garnered 2.46 million votes, while runner-up Nelson Chamisa secured 2.15 million votes. However, Chamisa alleges that the election was invalidated by incidents of theft and fraud. On August 1, authorities deployed the army to disperse opposition protesters in Harare, with security forces firing live ammunition at demonstrators, killing at least six people.

The July 30 elections were the first in Zimbabwe since Robert Mugabe stepped down as president in November 2017 after 37 years in power.

Advice

Individuals in Zimbabwe, and especially in Harare, are advised to avoid all demonstrations and closely monitor the situation. Be prepared to shelter in place in case of further violence, which could flare up with little warning.