(Last Updated on August 9, 2013 by Editor)
Harare, August 8, 2013 – Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday set in motion his electoral challenge to President Robert Mugabe’s disputed election victory by petitioning the Electoral Court seeking access to some materials used during the polls.
Tsvangirai wants the Electoral Court to grant him an order allowing him access to open and inspect the sealed ballot boxes and sealed packets relating to the presidential election in which the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Mugabe as the winner with 61 percent of the vote while the former trade union leader garnered 33 percent.
In his urgent chamber application filed in the Electoral court late Thursday, Tsvangirai, who in 2008 became the first politician to hand Mugabe his first electoral defeat forcing a run-off election – which he later boycotted citing massive violence against his supporters said he wants unlimited access to all the presidential election materials used in the harmonised elections held on July 31.
The MDC-T leader wants to be furnished with the full set of presidential results per constituency, copies of the voters’ roll used in all the polling stations including the one used in the special voting process held in mid-July. He also wants a register of police officers who managed to cast their vote in the special voting process and of those who had been authorized to but did not manage to cast their special vote and the reasons for such failure.
The combative former trade union leader, who is largely credited with stemming the decade long agonising economic crisis authored by Mugabe’s Zanu PF party has demanded that the electoral authorities hand over to him registers of assisted voters at all polling stations where people cast their votes during the elections.
He also wants access to a register of people whose names did not appear in the voters’ roll but were allowed to vote using voter registration slips.
Tsvangirai’s legal challenge is likely to open a pandora’s box after some local civil society organisations, African governments and western powers criticised the elections as “flawed” and whose result was tainted by “substantial electoral irregularities”.
In rejecting the election results, Tsvangirai said they were a “farce, fraudulent and stolen.”
At 89 years, Mugabe has been Zimbabwe’s only ruler since independence in 1980 and has presided over the collapse of the southern African country’s economy and is blamed for the country’s poor human rights record which invited targeted sanctions from Britain, the European Union and the United States.
25 Comments on “Tsvangirai Demands All Election Materials”
Comrade Naked on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 1:28 am
Last kick of a dying ex prime minister donkey.
JZ on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 1:41 am
When you are a competitor you don’t ask for materials to determine how you lost a competition. You are just a competitor, authority lies in the monitoring body. You can raise complains during the competition. The issue here is when you say a competition is unfair because of an unfavourable outcome, you are no longer playing fair yourself. It’s a case of too little too late. All time spend arguing about July 31 was time meant for inspecting election materials. Would you ask a marker to hand you examination material after failing an exam? No even though you are given one chance to appeal. As long as someone criticises an outcome subjectively without a sound objective criticism of the polling process this remains a non issue, because for those who voted there is a credible real result obtained from counting real votes.
Khalid Sheikh Mohamed on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 2:24 am
The gloves are off. This is the action Tsvangirayi should have initiated in 2008 after his first round victory.
Mike Hove on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 3:21 am
Well done Save! The rigging chicannery must be exposed.
cadre o on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 3:22 am
IF ZEC has nothing to hide lets them furnish our PM wth all materials…If u ar given the wrong question paper thats yo ryt 2 ask 2b furnished wth it frm the examiners esp when during the revision u heard strange thinx coming frm other students yet u purpote 2 hv set on the same questions.ZEC RITA MAKARAU GOD is surely 4 us all its just a matter of time,my conviction is GOD knows why all this is happening bt surely we shall cross the RED SEA
Dako on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 4:04 am
if the papers are there let them be supplied, hapana nyaya, Asi if the papers cannot be provided pane nyaya. Simple.
Jakwara on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 5:02 am
the guilty are always afraid. everyone knows the elections were stolen, smartly. i emphasise smartly because that is the only genious part. but stealing is stealing as stealins is supposed to be.
soldiers were used to steal, like they voted in mat south for mps that will never serve them. the venda did not choose the current mps, the kalanga did not choose the current mps. those that voted did not do so freely, headmen were used to intimidate rural folks, numbers were inflated, dead men voted. yes mt has every right to demand the materials, and for interest’s sake we all do. many of you dont want because you are afraid ZANU will do what it promised you in the dark: WAR.
Tulane on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 5:46 am
we callfor people to testify anonymously how they were forced to vote for zanu. I am behind clearing of this matter, if all was in order they should release materials if they resist they are hiding something
Tulane on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 5:53 am
mount pleasant incident was only a tipoff the icebergs just imagine wat was zanu doing in the remote areas . inmbare vendors at musika, mupedza nhamo , occupant s of flats were threatened with eviction by savanhu tendai, the same goes for Harare south constituency.
this election update must be published across all platforms for Zimbabweans to be aware of were the story is going. Hasidic mbavha muhofisi
Bhodlumlilo gt on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 6:07 am
For peace to prevail in country most Zimbabweans have agreed that this matter be taken to court. Even Zanu Pf through Chinamasa were in consensus with this. Morgan should have access to all material evidence as this court application is important to both parties. Ncube and Dabengwa only deserve a pat in the back from Mugabe as they have refused to challenge the results. Finally, if Zec or electoral court fail to cooperate with MDC’s demands then the alternative would be obvious; an uprising.
joseph Banda on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 6:16 am
Everything has to be above board even the used and unused ballot papers will be scutinised for evidence the MDC has Lawyers within its ranks vana Madhuku this is your time to make a positive contribution to Zimbabwe All friends of Zimbabwe let’s join in and uncover the truth instead of letting the country go to the dogs Ah Chinotimba unga Winner sei?
JZ on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 6:29 am
No No No, he is not getting anything. The intention is to take that material for a forensic audit. Taking the national database and handing it over to CIA is a breach of citizen confidentiality. We told you this man is not smart enough to preserve sovereignty . Tsvangirai must not be allowed anyway near citizens data for we know his forensic audit is a reckless passing on of sensitive national data to foreign institutions. Zimbabwe must not go under a foreign audit. He has enough evidence of rigging so let him present that evidence. This man is becoming a national threat even when he is not yet in government. Now we know it was in the interest of citizens for him to lose this election and he should now leave government institutions alone so they can focus on progressive issues. Don’t give him anything because he wants to sell citizens data to foreign auditors.
Guvnor on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 6:53 am
The guilty are afraid, if zanu muppets have nothing to hide put it all on the table amd let it undergo scrutiny. What is now wrong, are these not the tombfools who last time sat on the ballots for 5 weeks doing “meticulous verification”.
Gchacks on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 7:59 am
Every Reporter always writes like “He boycotted the run off in 2008 citing violance against his supporter“ so the reporter did not witness the violance?
Sekuru Gonzo on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 8:05 am
Cde Naked, you are stupid, haufungi. Manje ZANU PF muchamama. Makabirira, and we will not take it lightly mufana. We will deal with you, and your other criminals and devils. Ndinotpika namai vangu vari pachuru, munomama chete. Save endererai mberi nekubata vanhu ava pamachende avo chaiwo. Iko kaharahwa kavo aka kanotopatiza chete. Manje hure rako Grace iri, ndiro richachema taribhinya tiri 100.
Hlafunana Magade on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 8:12 am
Bhodlumlilo please follow events as they are and political convictions even if they may be hallucinations. Days before the elections Dabengwa told a press conference tha
cde hatiperi on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 8:23 am
ini handifungi pane nyaya z.e.c show him the material kt anyare bt kana makabira kumuratidza kunonetsa.saka zimbabwean toita sei one frnd of mine akataura nabiti zuro chaiwo we are going 2 show u thing(zvinhu) mbwa dzevanhu mbavha stupid misatanyoko kuda kutiuraya nenzara futi
Hlafunana Magade on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 8:25 am
Bhodlumlilo please follow events as they are and be careful about political convictions that may be hallucinations. Days before the elections Dabengwa told a press conference that if his party had money he would go to court to stop the whole process because it was flawed before it even occured. He pointed out that the voters roll exposed the whole strategy to rig the elections. Pro MDC-T journalists chose to ignore this stance by Dabengwa as Chamisa vowed that Zanupf would never be able to rig. Tswangirai even said with or without rigging Zanupf would not win despite the fact he had not contested voluntarily in 26 wards that Zanupf just took uncontested. I know 2 such wards in Matebeland. Today Ncube expressed his reservations too although he said that going to SADC or Au against Mugabe is useless. Leave these two who lost lections alone. Face Zanupf even where you never attempted to contest! Many people in towns wanted and still want change so that the economy will indeed progress genuinely and not a system allowing one person to loot everything but accusing Dabengwa and Ncube is what has given Zanupf a big support in Matebeleland. Believe you me!
BRIGADIER on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 8:29 am
PRESIDENT TSVANGIRAI I SALUTE YOU.AMONG PEOPLE WHO WEAR TROUSERS IN THE ARMY ,POLICE, POLITIBURO,AIR FORCE AND ZIMBABWE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD STAND UP AND FACE RG MUGABE IN THE FACE.EVEN IN ZANU PF MANY ADMIRE YOUR STRENGTH AND AND LACK F FEAR.AM YET TO SEE ANY AFRICAN LEADER WHO IS AS BRAVE AS YOU ARE TO STAND UP AGAINST MUGABE MAYBE KHAMA OF BOTSWANA DONT LOSE HEART WE SOLIDERS WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE,OF COURSE THE ARE FEW TOP BRASS WHO MAY NOT LIKE YOU OPENLY BUT DEEP INSIDE THEY ADMIRE YOU BRAVENESS.DONT GIVE UP POLITICS SADC,AU HAS FAILED YOU BUT WE THE PEOPLE WE ARE BEHIND YOU AND GO I BELIEVE HAS TAKEN UP OVER WERE MAN HAS FAILED
Ndapererwa on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 8:33 am
All the materials will be provided and the result remains the same.Next he will say show me the people who voted for Mugabe.
tichadyahacha on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 8:51 am
let them give it openly so that the scrutiny is done. if they fail in time then surely they will be editing something so that when they give it to tsvangirai there will be less or not even a single irregularities…lplease mr morgan make sure you are given these materials quicly even today coz right now they are busy correcting it
Mavambo Kusile Dawn on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 9:07 am
Tsvangirai must not be a bad loser. Odinga is appearing almost saintly by comparison! Can Morgan tell us why he should have won, if not just to “remove Mugabe”? The only recognized administrative body that presided over our elections was ZEC and Tsvangirai was only but a participant. ZEC itself had commissioners from all major political parties. Suddenly it has become a department in Jongwe House. If MDC-T reps can be manipulated like this, can they really run a country? I wonder. Now he wants election material. This is clealry mischieveous, to say the least. Can all aggrieved contestants, including Prof Moyo do the same? Two days before elections, Morgan said he would announce election results (a duty solely reserved for ZEC). What kind of a leader is this, who can’t respect simple laws? Today he wants access to and autority over elections material (again a constitutional preserve of ZEC). After this he will want to organize for fresh elections, ZEC’s mandate. This man is insane, if not a mercenary, watch him closely. MDC-T supporters shuld be ashamed to have him as a leader. Can’t Biti or Chamisa help with leadership here? Zimbabwe’s security system must be very wary and not lose sight of the Bennet shadows lurking behind Tsvangirai’s stupid demands. Imperialism never dies. Sadly Mugabe and most of us thought we had killed it in 1980. How wrong!
Langalibalele on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 9:22 am
There is this idiot who says Tsvangirai should have inspected the voting material before the elections. How stupid can you get.Is it possible to inspect something that is yet to happen. Bololoyihlo nja
Langalibalele on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 9:29 am
What Tsvangirai is asking for is perfectly legitimate in terms of the electoral act.It was not put there for mercenaries or foreign agents, but genuinely aggrieved participants in local elections. Akelime ukusuza mani
maita on Fri, 9th Aug 2013 9:59 am
Muzukuru wangu anogona kunyora akaenda kuchikoro pa Mandadzaka primary akaita form 2 akaroorwa otadza kuisa X pa ballot box kwaMamutse uko. Kwa Charamba pane asina kudzidza uko imika? Area yakatenderedza Zvinoitavamwe powanikwa vanhu vasingagone kuverenga imi, nekuwanda kwakaita zvikoro, ivo vachigona kunyora ma txt msges pa maphone votadza kuisa X. Sei kune ma vote e zanupf akawanda ndiko kwakanyanya kuwanda vasina kudzidza sekutaura kwavo? So we have 30000 uneducated idiots in Mashonaland east handitika. Mashonaland East ine vanhu vangani, powanikwa 30000 vasina kudzidza ndaseka hangu.Ngavarambe vachidzinga ma teacher kuti vasadzidza varambe vachibatsirwa kuvhota.