Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has won re-election and would serve a second and final five-year term.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced final presidential election results on Saturday saying Mnangagwa won with about 53% of the vote.
Mnangagwa on Sunday at State House welcomed the election result saying “I competed with them and I am happy that I have won the race.”
“Those who feel the race was not run properly should know where to go to.”
His main challenger, Nelson Chamisa, who leads the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) also secured some 44% of the presidential vote.
But he and his opposition party have questioned the result and rejected it outrightly.
The votes held last Wednesday had to be extended to Thursday after delays with the printing of ballot papers.
“We reject any results hastily assembled without proper verification,” said Promise Mkwananzi, a spokesperson for Chamisa’s Citizens Coalition for Change Party.
“We will advise citizens on the next steps as the situation develops.”
Chamisa himself later told his supporters on X that “They stole your voice and vote but never your hope. It’s a blatant and gigantic fraud. Our God is faithful. There shall be freedom and justice in Zimbabwe!”
Fellow Citizens; I know you are anxious. I will give an address soon. Never lose hope. Don’t give up. You did your very best. You sacrificed all. It’s not in vain. They stole your voice and vote but never your hope. It’s a blatant and gigantic fraud. Our God is faithful. There…
— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) August 27, 2023
It is not clear what the next line of action would be for the opposition which alleged that the 2018 election was rigged with the constitutional court upholding the result eventually after a legal challenge.
This is the second time Mnangagwa is narrowly defeating Chamisa at the last presidential election after coming victorious in 2018 as well.
Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF party is set to prolong its stay in power beyond 43 years, a position it has held since Zimbabwe gained independence from white minority rule in 1980.
Mnangagwa is the only person to have served as president of Zimbabwe after its long-time leader Robert Mugabe.
Source: Africafeeds.com
