HARARE ‑ The ruling party Zanu PF has taken a lead in the National Assembly seats after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) on late Tuesday announced the first set of results from Monday’s polls.
This comes after opposition MDC Alliance held celebrations Tuesday morning to declare victory in Zimbabwe.
Former finance minister Tendai Biti had warned the electoral commission to stop delaying the announcement
However, Zec announced that it had received seven constituency results from 210 in the country, which saw Zanu PF bagging six, with the MDC Alliance getting one as of 6pm.
Zanu PF managed to get Hwedza South, to be represented by Tinomuda Machakaire, Chiredzi East (Denford Masiya), Masvingo West (Ezra Chadzamira), Masvingo South (Claudius Maronga), Marondera West (Spiwe Mukanyaidze), and Mudzi North (Newton Kachepa).
Patrick Dube of the MDC Alliance grabbed the Gwanda Central seat.
Zec chairwoman Priscilla Chigumba, however, said results for the presidential polls would not be released until Zec had finished its nullification process.
The local authority results are also yet to be announced.
Chigumba will announce another set of results late on Tuesday night.
There is a growing level of anxiety gripping the country, as many expect MDC Alliance’s Nelson Chamisa to win the contest.
Chamisa’s MDC Alliance is in a two-horse race for the presidential seat with incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa, who will be banking on Zanu PF's traditional voter base in rural Zimbabwe.
The MDC has, in the past, dominated in urban areas and appeals largely to the working-class and middle income earners.