Section 93: Challenge to presidential election
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) Subject to this section, any aggrieved candidate may challenge the validity of an election of a President by lodging a petition or application with the Constitutional Court within seven days after the date of the declaration of the results of the election.
[Subsection amended by s. 5 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
(2) …
[Subsection repealed by s. 5 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
(3) The Constitutional Court must hear and determine a petition or application under subsection (1) within fourteen days after the petition or application was lodged, and the court’s decision is final.
(4) In determining a petition or application under subsection (1), the Constitutional Court may––
(a) declare a winner;
(b) invalidate the election, in which case a fresh election must be held within sixty days
after the determination; or
(c) make any other order it considers just and appropriate.
(5) …
[Subsection repealed by s. 5 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
Key Insight: Presidential Election Challenges
This section establishes a rapid legal pathway for contesting presidential election results. The tight timeframes (7 days to file, 14 days to decide) reflect the urgency of resolving electoral disputes quickly to maintain governmental stability. Note that the 2021 amendment removed certain provisions, streamlining the process while maintaining the Constitutional Court's final authority on these matters. The Court's broad powers to declare winners, invalidate elections, or make other orders emphasizes its critical role as the ultimate arbiter of presidential electoral disputes.