APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe opposition Coalition for Citizens Coalition (CCC) boycotted Tuesday’s official opening of parliament by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying they do not recognise his legitimacy following disputed elections held two months ago.
CCC chief whip in parliament Amos Chibaya said the party views Mnangagwa as an illegitimate leader and therefore decided not to attend the opening session.
“We view him as an illegitimate leader, hence our decision not to be addressed by him,” Mabaya told journalists in Harare.
Mnangagwa controversially won re-election for a second five-year term following general elections held in August that were criticised by observers from the Southern African Development Community and other regions as flawed and not credible.
The elections were condemned after, among other things, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to deliver ballot papers to most polling stations in CCC-dominated constituencies for up to 16 hours, thereby denying some voters the chance to vote.
The CCC is pushing for a rerun of the elections.
JN/APA