A scenario much likely to the one that eclipsed Kenyan presidential election is looming in Zimbabwe days after incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared winner of closely contested presidential elections.
In the final results, ZEC released results that gave Mr. Mnangagwa, a former deputy to Robert Mugabe 50.8 per cent of votes while rival opposition leader Nelson Chamisa secured 43.6 per cent.
But the opposition, which sparked protests that saw government soldiers killing at least six people, has stood ground and is ready for parallel swearing in.
"I have just finished going through evidence per our agents and V11 forms from across Zimbabwe," tweeted Chamisa.
He added: "We won this election emphatically. ZEC figures are falsified and inflated in favour of the outgoing president. We are ready for inauguration and formation of next government."
Barely seven months ago, Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga rejected presidential results, which had been overturned by Supreme Court anyway and would swear himself despite boycotting October repeat polls.
Just like Zimbabwe, violence rocked Kenyan polls even though Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta have since reconciled.
Regional friends to Zimbabwe led by South Africa have already backed the election outcome and even advised the opposition MDC to challenge the results in court.
Should Chamisa make his threat real, Zimbabwe is likely to witness a protracted electioneering period, the first after Mugabe era.
Early this year, Raila was welcomed by Chamisa during the burial of former MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who succumbed to cancer.
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