Zvimba North recount turns up unopened ballot boxes

Zvimba North recount turns up unopened ballot boxes

WINNER: Ignatius Chombo

• ZEC promises presidential poll result this weekend

• MDC retains Zaka West seat after recount

• Zvinavashe concedes after recount

• Zanu PF retains Goromonzi West in first recount result

• Partial recount begins, delays warning

• Dabengwa calls for 'transitional government'

• Recount goes ahead as judge rejects MDC petition

• MDC challenges 60 House of Assembly results

• Few options for MDC in poll stalemate

• High Court dismisses MDC poll results demand

• High Court orders ZEC to abandon recount

• MDC says Tsvangirai will not stand in run-off

• SENATE ELECTION RESULTS

• HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTION RESULTS

By Lebo Nkatazo

A VOTE recount for the Zvimba North House of Assembly and Senate seats has turned up new ballot papers from a polling station which had been omitted from the first count, officials said.

Zanu PF candidate Ignatius Chombo -- announced the House of Assembly winner after the March 29 elections before a recount was ordered by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) -- retained the seat, up 155 votes.

Ernest Mudimu of MDC-Tsvangirai gained 13 votes, taking his tally to 1714, contrasted with Chombo’s 6939. Shelton Magama of MDC saw his total reduced by 28 votes, and he was down to 916.

Zanu PF Senate candidate Virginia Muchenje, announced duly elected with 26 274 votes after the first count, was up 261 votes while her opponent, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Fidelis Chiramba, improved on his 12 651 total by 295.

The Zvimba North result is only the third result from 23 recounts. Results remained unchanged in Goromonzi West where Zanu PF won and Zaka West where the MDC was ahead.

The ZEC has promised all results from the recount will be announced over the weekend, possibly to be quickly followed by the presidential election results which are still outstanding, almost a month after voting.

Recounts were initiated in 21 constituencies where Zanu PF claimed President Mugabe and Zanu PF’s ballots had been undercounted by corrupt election officials who took money from the MDC-Tsvangirai. The MDC-Tsvangirai forced recounts in two constituencies.

Zanu PF hopes to overturn its defeat in parliamentary elections after losing its majority to the two MDC factions for the first time in the March 29 elections.

Recounts are also being carried out in Chimanimani West, Mutare West, Bikita West, Bikita South, Bulilima East, Zhombe, Zaka East, Silobela, Chiredzi North, Gokwe-Kabuyuni, Buhera South, Lupane East, Mberengwa East, West, South, North, Masvingo Central and Masvingo West.
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