Zimbabwe`s main opposition said it filed a petition yesterday challenging President Robert Mugabe`s controversial victory in last month`s elections, but did not expect a hearing within the next two months.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who lost the widely condemned March 9-11 poll, has accused Mugabe of stealing the victory. Saying he has "shocking" evidence of fraud, he is demanding a fresh election, despite talks between the political foes.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legal affairs secretary David Coltart told Reuters that papers were filed in terms of Zimbabwe`s Electoral Act, which gave the party 30 days after the vote to lodge an appeal. The deadline was at 1400 GMT yesterday.
"We filed the papers at 2.30 pm (1230 GMT) in the High Court in Harare. They should be served on Mugabe and the Registrar General on Monday or Tuesday," said Coltart.
He said the government would have about two weeks to file its response, leading to a trial in the high court.
"From experience with the parliamentary challenges, there were considerable delays in the high court... so we don`t anticipate that the trial will be held in less than two months time," said Coltart, referring to fraud allegations after earlier contests.
Tsvangirai, who has denied charges of plotting to kill Mugabe, told a news conference on Thursday the MDC had a very strong case.
"We have an overwhelmingly strong case. Our lawyers have uncovered mountains of hardcore and powerful evidence of electoral fraud, which if presented to an independent and impartial court would undoubtedly result in Robert Mugabe`s electoral victory being set aside," he said.
Mugabe`s ruling ZANU-PF has flatly refused a re-run of the election, saying it was free and fair.
The MDC has charged that ZANU-PF inflated voter turnout in rural areas that are the base of Mugabe`s support, stuffed ballot boxes, locked out voters in the opposition`s urban strongholds and used violence to chase away MDC polling agents.
Zimbabwe was last month suspended from the Commonwealth for a year after the 54-nation group`s election observers denounced the vote, which extended Mugabe`s 22-year rule by six years.
South Africa and Nigeria have initiated dialogue between the MDC and ZANU-PF to explore ways of healing the rift between the two parties.
Some analysts said the MDC had taken the right route and did not expect the legal challenge to affect the talks.
"There are two separate processes here. The issue of rigged or fraudulent elections pertains to the subversion of the will of the Zimbabwean people in the process of electing their president," said Brian Kagoro, an independent analyst.
"That issue can only be resolved when you have a just solution and that just solution is going to court."
The MDC indicated on Thursday it could withdraw its suit of ZANU-PF acted in good faith when those talks resume on May 13.