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| Zimbabwe election: Army patrols ghost town Harare | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, is a ghost town as most people stay indoors ahead of the release of disputed presidential election results. | |
| Troops patrolled the city centre, ordering people to "behave". | |
| Six people were killed after Wednesday's clashes in the city between the security forces and supporters of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. | |
| He says Monday's polls were being rigged to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa victory. | He says Monday's polls were being rigged to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa victory. |
| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) said there was "absolutely no skulduggery", and it would begin releasing presidential results at 20:00 GMT. | The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) said there was "absolutely no skulduggery", and it would begin releasing presidential results at 20:00 GMT. |
| Mr Chamisa insists he has won, and has called on his supporters to await "mass celebrations". | Mr Chamisa insists he has won, and has called on his supporters to await "mass celebrations". |
| The elections were the first since long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, 94, was ousted in November. | The elections were the first since long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, 94, was ousted in November. |
| The polls were intended to set Zimbabwe on a new path following Mr Mugabe's repressive rule. | The polls were intended to set Zimbabwe on a new path following Mr Mugabe's repressive rule. |
| However, Mr Chamisa's MDC Alliance has accused the military of using excessive force to quell Wednesday's protests. | However, Mr Chamisa's MDC Alliance has accused the military of using excessive force to quell Wednesday's protests. |
| Mr Mnangagwa said the government was in talks with Mr Chamisa to defuse the crisis and proposed an independent investigation to bring those who were behind the violence to justice. | Mr Mnangagwa said the government was in talks with Mr Chamisa to defuse the crisis and proposed an independent investigation to bring those who were behind the violence to justice. |
| "This land is home to all of us, and we will sink or swim together," Mr Mnangagwa said in a series of tweets. | "This land is home to all of us, and we will sink or swim together," Mr Mnangagwa said in a series of tweets. |
| Has his plea been heeded? | |
| No violence was reported on Thursday. A truckload of armed policemen and soldiers were driving around the city shouting, "Behave yourself, people of Zimbabwe." | No violence was reported on Thursday. A truckload of armed policemen and soldiers were driving around the city shouting, "Behave yourself, people of Zimbabwe." |
| Riot police raided the headquarters of the MDC Alliance, and detained about 10 people. | |
| A BBC reporter in Harare says the city centre is like a ghost town. | |
| Police said three people died in hospital, bringing to six the number killed in the unrest. | |
| Another 14 people were injured in the violence, police added. | |
| In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Chamisa visited some of them in hospital. | |
| He said the MDC Alliance accepted defeat in the parliamentary election, but not in the presidential poll. | |
| Zanu-PF, in power since the country gained its independence 38 years ago, has won a two-thirds parliamentary majority. | |
| 'Winners and losers in every match' | 'Winners and losers in every match' |
| By Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Harare | By Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Harare |
| There is an air of nervousness tonight in Harare, an opposition stronghold which usually has a bustling city centre. | There is an air of nervousness tonight in Harare, an opposition stronghold which usually has a bustling city centre. |
| Earlier, I was in the small town of Concession, an hour's drive north of the capital. It is a Zanu-PF stronghold, and the mood there was carefree and jovial. Locals have elected a Zanu-PF MP again, and expect to walk away with the presidency as well. | Earlier, I was in the small town of Concession, an hour's drive north of the capital. It is a Zanu-PF stronghold, and the mood there was carefree and jovial. Locals have elected a Zanu-PF MP again, and expect to walk away with the presidency as well. |
| Patience Simeon, 29, told me: "The MDC need to know that Harare is not Zimbabwe. We have also lost seats in other parts of the country but did not go to the streets. Why turn a peaceful election into violence? What happened on Wednesday is wrong." | Patience Simeon, 29, told me: "The MDC need to know that Harare is not Zimbabwe. We have also lost seats in other parts of the country but did not go to the streets. Why turn a peaceful election into violence? What happened on Wednesday is wrong." |
| Lloyd Chingulu, also 29, agreed, saying: "I don't know why people are panicking. If they lose they must accept the result. There are winners and losers in every match." | Lloyd Chingulu, also 29, agreed, saying: "I don't know why people are panicking. If they lose they must accept the result. There are winners and losers in every match." |
| Nevertheless, one thing became clear from my conversations with people in Harare and Concession. They want the same thing - the economy to grow and for jobs to be created. But for that to happen, they may need to set aside political rivalries. | Nevertheless, one thing became clear from my conversations with people in Harare and Concession. They want the same thing - the economy to grow and for jobs to be created. But for that to happen, they may need to set aside political rivalries. |
| How have foreign powers responded? | How have foreign powers responded? |
| UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Zimbabwe's politicians to exercise restraint, while UK foreign office minister Harriett Baldwin said she was "deeply concerned" by the violence. | UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Zimbabwe's politicians to exercise restraint, while UK foreign office minister Harriett Baldwin said she was "deeply concerned" by the violence. |
| The US embassy in Harare advised its citizens to avoid the city centre, following Wednesday's unrest. | The US embassy in Harare advised its citizens to avoid the city centre, following Wednesday's unrest. |
| In a message to Zimbabwe's politicians, the embassy said there was a "historic opportunity to move the country towards a brighter future". | In a message to Zimbabwe's politicians, the embassy said there was a "historic opportunity to move the country towards a brighter future". |
| "Violence cannot be part of that process," it added. | "Violence cannot be part of that process," it added. |
| China, Zimbabwe's main international ally, said it hoped all sides would put the country's interests first following a "generally peaceful and orderly" election. | China, Zimbabwe's main international ally, said it hoped all sides would put the country's interests first following a "generally peaceful and orderly" election. |
| What happened after the vote? | What happened after the vote? |
| The day after the election, the MDC Alliance said Mr Chamisa had won the presidential election, pre-empting an official announcement and prompting its supporters to celebrate in some areas of Harare | The day after the election, the MDC Alliance said Mr Chamisa had won the presidential election, pre-empting an official announcement and prompting its supporters to celebrate in some areas of Harare |
| When Zec announced that Zanu-PF had won the parliamentary vote by a landslide on Wednesday, things turned nasty. | When Zec announced that Zanu-PF had won the parliamentary vote by a landslide on Wednesday, things turned nasty. |
| The opposition supporters were are also angered by the delay in announcing the presidential results. | The opposition supporters were are also angered by the delay in announcing the presidential results. |
| Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the government would not tolerate such protests. | Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the government would not tolerate such protests. |
| The opposition "are testing our resolve, and I think they are making a big mistake", he said. | The opposition "are testing our resolve, and I think they are making a big mistake", he said. |
| A spokesman for Mr Chamisa condemned the deployment of soldiers and the subsequent loss of life. | A spokesman for Mr Chamisa condemned the deployment of soldiers and the subsequent loss of life. |
| More on post-Mugabe Zimbabwe: | More on post-Mugabe Zimbabwe: |
| "Soldiers are trained to kill during war. Are civilians enemies of the state?" he asked. | "Soldiers are trained to kill during war. Are civilians enemies of the state?" he asked. |
| "There is no explanation whatsoever for the brutality that we saw." | "There is no explanation whatsoever for the brutality that we saw." |
| Which results have been declared? | Which results have been declared? |
| Zec has announced all parliamentary results. Although Zanu-PF won by a landslide, it gained fewer seats than in the 2013 election. | Zec has announced all parliamentary results. Although Zanu-PF won by a landslide, it gained fewer seats than in the 2013 election. |
| More than five million people were registered to vote, and there was a turnout of 70%. | More than five million people were registered to vote, and there was a turnout of 70%. |
| Zec said the verification of the presidential election result was "going very well". | Zec said the verification of the presidential election result was "going very well". |
| The frontrunners: | |
| There had been a delay because of the need for party agents to verify the result, it said. | There had been a delay because of the need for party agents to verify the result, it said. |
| The electoral commission confirmed on Thursday that its website had been hacked, saying it took it down "within 11 minutes" of the attack. | The electoral commission confirmed on Thursday that its website had been hacked, saying it took it down "within 11 minutes" of the attack. |
| In terms of the law, Zec has until Saturday to announce the result. | In terms of the law, Zec has until Saturday to announce the result. |
| A presidential candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win outright. Otherwise, a run-off election will be held on 8 September. | A presidential candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win outright. Otherwise, a run-off election will be held on 8 September. |
| What are election observers saying? | What are election observers saying? |
| The European Union and Commonwealth missions criticised the delay in announcing the presidential results. | The European Union and Commonwealth missions criticised the delay in announcing the presidential results. |
| This is the first time in 16 years that the government has allowed EU, Commonwealth and US election monitors into the country. | This is the first time in 16 years that the government has allowed EU, Commonwealth and US election monitors into the country. |
| The Commonwealth said parties should use "all available conflict resolution mechanisms" to resolve differences. | The Commonwealth said parties should use "all available conflict resolution mechanisms" to resolve differences. |
| "The electoral process is yet to be concluded. The greatest test of leadership is called for now," its mission said. | "The electoral process is yet to be concluded. The greatest test of leadership is called for now," its mission said. |