Zimbabwe opposition lodges appeal against election result

President Emmerson Mnangagwa (left) was credited with a slight overall majority in the first round of voting -- enough to avoid a runoff ballot. Opposition Nelson Chamisa (right) says the result was rigged. [AFP]

Zimbabwe's MDC opposition party lodged a court bid Friday to overturn the results of presidential elections that it alleges were rigged to ensure victory for Robert Mugabe's successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has accused the ruling ZANU-PF party and the election commission of ballot fraud in the July 30 vote, Zimbabwe's first poll since the ousting of Mugabe in November.