IRI/NDI Zimbabwe International Election Observation Mission Final Report 51 challenging the results for National Assembly seats. The Mutare Electoral Court received a total of three cases, with one filed to challenge the results for one National Assembly seat. The Masvingo Electoral Court received only one electoral case, which was filed before Election Day. The ZIEOM noted that for a number of pre-election cases, allegations of electoral malpractice were not investigated in a timely manner nor were judgments rendered before Election Day, undermining international conventions for citizens’ right to effective dispute resolution and remedy. A total of 20 petitions were filed challenging the outcome of parliamentary elections: nine by the MDC Alliance, four by ZANU-PF, three by independent candidates, two by MDC-T, one by NPF, and one by PRC.79 Of greatest note is the case of Chegutu West. For this election, the ZEC initially announced the ZANU-PF candidate, Dexter Nduna, as the winner. However, the ZEC later reversed itself admitting it had made an error and had inadvertently recorded the votes for the winning MDC Alliance candidate, Gift Konjana, as those for the losing ZANU-PF candidate and vice versa. While ZANU-PF acknowledged that a transcription error had been made and that its candidate did not receive the largest number of votes, the party challenged the ZEC’s decision to reverse itself, arguing that only the courts could change the outcome. As a result, the ZANU-PF candidate was declared the winner despite the ZEC, MDC Alliance, and ZANU-PF all agreeing that it was the MDC Alliance candidate who received the most votes. The MDC Alliance filed a petition challenging this result, but it was thrown out by the courts on technical grounds and the petition was not heard. President Mnangaga was sworn in as president on August 26 following the Constitutional Court’s decision dismissing Chamisa’s petition challenging the election results. Parliament opened on September 8 with members of Parliament (MPs) for both the National Assembly and the Senate (including the Council of Chiefs) being sworn in as well. 79 ZANU-PF is respondent in twelve petitions, MDC Alliance in five, and NPF in one. The two remaining petitions were lodged by the MDC-T and pertain to the proportional allocation of seats in the Senate and the women’s quota to the National Assembly.