Massive drop in poll petitions

Sharon Munjenjema, Harare Bureau
THE number of challenges against National Assembly and local authority poll outcomes brought to Electoral Courts fell significantly this year as compared to 2013.

In all, 28 petitions were filed after the July 30, 2018 elections compared to 110 in 2013. Political commentators say the statistics vindicate the professional manner in which the polls were conducted and put paid to allegations that there were a lot of irregularities during the harmonised elections as claimed by the opposition MDC Alliance.

Of the 28 petitions that have been filed, 19 are challenges to National Assembly results, while only nine challenge local authority outcomes. In an interview last week, High Court Registrar Mrs Faith Mushure said the 2013 elections were more disputed than this year’s.

“The last election was more disputed than this year’s election. 110 petitions were filed in 2013 and this year, they are not more than 30.”