[JURIST] The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) [party websites] both filed legal challenges to the parliamentary results of Zimbabwe's March 29 general election [JURIST report] Wednesday. ZANU-PF filed lawsuits challenging the outcome of 53 out of the 210 constituencies, while the MDC filed lawsuits challenging the results of 52 constituencies. The MDC won 109 seats compared to 97 for the ZANU-PF, marking the first time the ZANU-PF lost its majority since the country declared independence from the British 28 years ago. A partial recount was held [JURIST report] in 23 of the constituencies after the results were initially challenged, but the results were later confirmed.

Earlier this month, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) [official website] recently confirmed that MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai [BBC profile] won a slim majority in Zimbabwe's contested March presidential election but not enough to avoid a run-off vote against current Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe [BBC profile; JURIST news archive]. The ZEC had delayed releasing the official results because of claimed "errors and miscalculations" in its compilation, despite an attempt [JURIST report] by the MDC to force it to release election results. The MDC has said that it is willing to form a coalition government with Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, but will not work with Mugabe himself. AFP has more. From Zimbabwe, the Herald has local coverage.