Ÿ that they had mixed up the figures. Despite the error admission, ZEC could not unilaterally change the announcement and the Electoral Court had to change the announcement. But Justice Dube ruled on a technicality that the petition lodged by Konjana failed to meet the strict rules of procedure in electoral petitions and was thus fatally defective in that it did not comply with the requirements of electoral rules. Ÿ Masvingo High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze dismissed with costs a challenge brought by MDC Manicaland provincial chairperson David Chimhini, the losing MDC Alliance losing candidate for Mutasa North Constituency who sought an order to compel ZEC to conduct a ballot recount in Mutasa North constituency, where he lost to ZANU-PF’s Chido Madiwa by 298 votes. ZEC turned down his request for a recount in eight polling stations. Ÿ On 3 August, MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s post-election press conference at Bronte Hotel was disrupted by heavily armed anti-riot Police. Anti-riot police arrived at the press conference venue and ordered journalists out. Reportedly, president Mnangagwa dispatched minister Simon Khaya Moyo to order the police away. The President later that evening announced that he would order an investigation into what transpired. The investigation was never instituted. Ÿ MDC Alliance official Morgan Komichi was charged for contravening section 186 of the Electoral Act after he was arrested in August for allegedly interrupting ZEC proceedings and announcing his rejection of the elections management body’s official results. Ÿ Human rights lawyer and MDC-Alliance Vice-Chairperson Tendai Biti was charged for contravening provisions of the Electoral Act. He was arrested in August and charged with contravening the Electoral Act for allegedly unlawfully and unofficially announcing the presidential election results. 13 STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ZIMBABWE 2018