The Zimbabwe election was fraught with nerves and tension, so perhaps a little light relief was needed on Thursday evening.
As the Zimbabwe Electoral Committee (ZEC) revealed the results province-by-province, it emerged that Emmerson Mnangagwa had retained the presidency after scoring over 50% of the popular vote – an outcome disputed by the opposing MDC party.
Mnangagwa took six out of 10 provinces, ensuring that he ousted Nelson Chamisa in the Parliamentary, provincial and popular polls.
While sharing the provincial vote of Manicaland, a member of the ZEC made a hilarious slip-up announcing one of the candidates. Harry Wilson Peter was referred to as “Harry Potter” by the adjudicator, raising titters across the country.
The Bulawayo-based engineer Harry Peter Wilson had declared his motivation to end the suffering Zimbabweans have had to endure for the past 16 years. His party, the Democratic Opposition Party (DOP), was formed in 2002 in the United Kingdom, where he was in self-imposed exile.
He was unsuccessful in his pursuit of votes, however, ending the night with just a few hundred to his name. He fell just 296 000 short of provincial winner Nelson Chamisa. Perhaps he’s not so magic after all.
Mnangagwa took six out of 10 provinces, ensuring that he ousted Nelson Chamisa in the Parliamentary, provincial and popular polls.
Zimbabwe election: Harry Potter confusion
After Wednesday’s harrowing scenes on the streets of Harare, this election was in desperate need of a resolution. However, what we weren’t aware of was just how welcome a bit of comic relief was, too. |
| Zimbabwe Election Results: Chuckles All Round After “Harry Potter” Confusion |
Who is Harry Wilson Peter?
Well, whether you like it or not, it would now seem the Zimbabwe election has turned you into a wizard, Harry.The Bulawayo-based engineer Harry Peter Wilson had declared his motivation to end the suffering Zimbabweans have had to endure for the past 16 years. His party, the Democratic Opposition Party (DOP), was formed in 2002 in the United Kingdom, where he was in self-imposed exile.
He was unsuccessful in his pursuit of votes, however, ending the night with just a few hundred to his name. He fell just 296 000 short of provincial winner Nelson Chamisa. Perhaps he’s not so magic after all.
