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Zimbabwe President-elect Mnangagwa’s inauguration date yet unknown –Spokesman
Zimbabwean presidential spokesperson , George Charamba , has said the date for President – elect Emmerson Mnangagwa ’ s inauguration will be set after the government is sure that there will not be any petition challenging the July 30 election result in court .
Charamba was responding to social media reports that inauguration would take place as early as Monday .
He told Monday ’ s Herald newspaper that the delay in announcing the inauguration date was in accordance with the law .
“ Government does not announce its programmes through the social media . If the date has been set , we will announce it . How do you know that there won ’ t be a challenge to the results?
“ We wait for the seven days to lapse . If there is no legal challenge to the result , then naturally , we will announce the date , ” he said .
Mnangagwa won the presidential election after polling 50 . 8 per cent of the vote against nearest rival Nelson Chamisa of the MDC -Alliance who polled 44 . 3 per cent .
Chamisa has since disputed the result and promised to contest it in court .
According to the Constitution, any aggrieved presidential candidate may challenge the validity of an election within seven days after the date of the declaration of results.
Meanwhile , life is slowly returning to normal in Zimbabwe after the violence that erupted following the polls . .
Chamisa ’ s party has also said it will challenge the results in at least 20 constituencies won by ZANU -PF .
While there have been celebrations over the results in some quarters and expressions of bitterness in
others , people have begun concentrating on their work instead of remaining fixated with the events of
the past week in which six people died after the army fired on protesting civilians .
The civilians , mainly supporters of the MDC Alliance , were protesting the delay in announcing the election
results and alleging that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was trying to manipulate them in favour of ZANU – PF.
( Xinhua/ NAN )
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