Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe ever since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1980. Under Mugabe, the once so-called breadbasket of Africa has spiralled into an economic meltdown with the inflation rate over 100,000 per cent and the unemployment rate over 80 per cent.
An estimated 3.5 million Zimbabweans have fled to neighbouring South Africa and other countries to escape the hunger and to earn money to send back to family members still living in Zimbabwe.
"The people of Zimbabwe have been suffering," noted Setri Nyomi, the General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, in a statement.
"It is our prayer that Zimbabweans would be able to celebrate future independence days devoid of the political and economic hardships they are undergoing," he said in reference to Zimbabwe's 28th Independence Day on Friday.
The Reformed Church head also commented how "mind boggling" it was that the results have not been released after three weeks.
"This is a miscarriage of justice," Nyomi stated. "Let us join our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe in praying towards and working for justice to be done."
On Saturday, Zimbabwe began a partial recount of votes from the March 29 elections despite protest from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the opposition party, according to Reuters. The recount could overturn the results of the parliamentary election, which had shown the ZANU-PF losing the majority for the first time.
Moreover, a recount of the parallel presidential vote is also taking place even though results were never released.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai - whose party declared him the winner based on results posted outside polling stations - said the recount is illegal and that the MDC would not accept the results.
"We reject the process. We reject the outcome of this flawed process," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Reuters. "As far as the MDC is concerned, the first results stand. Anything else will be an illegitimate process."
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the recount process is expected to be completed in three days.
