By Peta Thornycroft

For the first time in Zimbabwe's history, an election recount is taking place. The recounting of votes for 23 seats in the country's legislature began on Saturday, with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and most legal analysts calling it illegal.
The recount was called by the ruling ZANU-PF party after it narrowly lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence following elections on March 29.

According to the country's election law, a recount is only possible if a complaint is filed within 48 hours after the votes are tabulated.