The ruling Zanu-PF party on Thursday predicted a landslide victory in the country’s just ended general elections, as early results of the poll were declared.
Zimbabweans on Wednesday voted for a new president, and parliamentary and local government representatives for the next five years.
Addressing a press conference as early results of the poll started coming in
on Thursday, Zanu-PF treasurer, Patrick Chinamasa said indications pointed to an overwhelming win by the party.
He said unofficial vote tallies by the party, based on results collated by its polling agents at voting centres throughout the coutry, showed that it will retain its two-thirds majority in parliament, and win between 60 and 65 percent of the presidential vote.
The predicted victory, if achieved, will give Zanu-PF such vast powers as to be able to amend the constitution if it so wished.
In the outgoing legislature, the party also had a two-thirds majority, and its presidential candidate won convincingly in the 2018 elections.
Chinamasa said claims of similar success in the election by the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change party, made earlier on Thursday, were baseless.
The party told journalists earlier on Thursday that unofficial vote tallies in its hands showed it had defeated Zanu-PF in all segments of the election.
But Chinamasa said the claims were baseless, and implored voters to dismiss and ignore them.
Incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking a second term, and was widely seen as the front runner in Wednesday’s elections.
Over six million voters were registered to take part in the poll, whose full results are expected within five days.
New Ziana