This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45040594
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe election: Shops shut in Harare as army patrols | Zimbabwe election: Shops shut in Harare as army patrols |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Businesses have shut in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, as the nation awaits the release of heavily disputed presidential election results. | Businesses have shut in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, as the nation awaits the release of heavily disputed presidential election results. |
| Armed soldiers and police are on patrol, ordering people to "behave". | Armed soldiers and police are on patrol, ordering people to "behave". |
| Three people were killed in the city on Wednesday in clashes between the security forces and supporters of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. | Three people were killed in the city on Wednesday in clashes between the security forces and supporters of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. |
| Mr Chamisa says Monday's elections were being rigged to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa victory. | Mr Chamisa says Monday's elections were being rigged to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa victory. |
| The elections were the first since long-time ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted in November. | The elections were the first since long-time ruler Robert Mugabe 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 diffuse 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 diffuse 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. |
| 'No skulduggery' | |
| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has declared Mr Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF party the winner of the parliamentary election, with a two-thirds majority. | The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has declared Mr Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF party the winner of the parliamentary election, with a two-thirds majority. |
| It has not released presidential election results, saying party agents were still verifying the result and there was "absolutely no skulduggery". | It has not released presidential election results, saying party agents were still verifying the result and there was "absolutely no skulduggery". |
| Zec confirmed its website had been hacked, saying it took it down "within 11 minutes" of the attack. | |
| Zanu-PF, which has been in power since the country gained its independence 38 years ago, also denies there has been any rigging. | |
| 'Bracing for more trouble' | 'Bracing for more trouble' |
| By Andrew Harding, BBC news, Harare | By Andrew Harding, BBC news, Harare |
| Shops are closed and shutters are down as the centre of Zimbabwe's capital braces itself for more trouble. | Shops are closed and shutters are down as the centre of Zimbabwe's capital braces itself for more trouble. |
| There is no sign yet of any organised protest by opposition supporters. | There is no sign yet of any organised protest by opposition supporters. |
| President Mnangagwa has blamed the violence on the MDC Alliance and has now promised an independent investigation. | President Mnangagwa has blamed the violence on the MDC Alliance and has now promised an independent investigation. |
| But the issue at the heart of the trouble has yet to be resolved - the outcome of the presidential election which the opposition is convinced is being rigged. | But the issue at the heart of the trouble has yet to be resolved - the outcome of the presidential election which the opposition is convinced is being rigged. |
| Foreign observers are pressuring the electoral commission to announce the results quickly - and to address concerns about fraud by being transparent about the entire process. | Foreign observers are pressuring the electoral commission to announce the results quickly - and to address concerns about fraud by being transparent about the entire process. |
| 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 Hararen also called for calm, saying the country had an "historic opportunity" for a brighter future. | The US embassy in Hararen also called for calm, saying the country had an "historic opportunity" for a brighter future. |
| Human rights group Amnesty International's acting secretary general Colm O Cuanachain said in a press release that the "militarisation" of the election aftermath was "muzzling freedom of expression, association and assembly". | Human rights group Amnesty International's acting secretary general Colm O Cuanachain said in a press release that the "militarisation" of the election aftermath was "muzzling freedom of expression, association and assembly". |
| "People must be guaranteed their right to protest," he said. | "People must be guaranteed their right to protest," he said. |
| 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." |
| What happened after the vote? | What happened after the vote? |
| Zec's announcement that Zanu-PF had won the parliamentary vote by a landslide prompted protests in Harare. | Zec's announcement that Zanu-PF had won the parliamentary vote by a landslide prompted protests in Harare. |
| Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the government would not tolerate the protests. | Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the government would not tolerate the protests. |
| The opposition "are testing our resolve", he said, "and I think they are making a big mistake." | The opposition "are testing our resolve", he said, "and I think they are making a big mistake." |
| 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: | |
| "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 today." | "There is no explanation whatsoever for the brutality that we saw today." |
| 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%. |
| The frontrunners: | |
| The state broadcaster had reported that Zec would announce the presidential results on Wednesday, but this did not happen. | The state broadcaster had reported that Zec would announce the presidential results on Wednesday, but this did not happen. |
| On Thursday, Zec said the verification of results was "going very well", but did not give a clear indication of when they will be released. | On Thursday, Zec said the verification of results was "going very well", but did not give a clear indication of when they will be released. |
| Zec has until Saturday to announce the result. | 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 mission criticised the delay in announcing the presidential results. | The European Union mission criticised the delay in announcing the presidential results. |
| It said it had observed several problems, including media bias, voter intimidation and mistrust in the electoral commission, adding that there was an "improved political climate, but un-level playing field and lack of trust". | It said it had observed several problems, including media bias, voter intimidation and mistrust in the electoral commission, adding that there was an "improved political climate, but un-level playing field and lack of trust". |
| This is the first time in 16 years that the government has allowed EU and US election monitors into the country. | This is the first time in 16 years that the government has allowed EU and US election monitors into the country. |
| The African Union mission has said the elections "took place in a very peaceful environment" and "were highly competitive". | The African Union mission has said the elections "took place in a very peaceful environment" and "were highly competitive". |
| It added that it could not confirm opposition parties' complaints of vote-buying, intimidation by the state and bias by traditional leaders. | It added that it could not confirm opposition parties' complaints of vote-buying, intimidation by the state and bias by traditional leaders. |
| A preliminary report by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) observers said the elections were largely peaceful and conducted in accordance with the law. | A preliminary report by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) observers said the elections were largely peaceful and conducted in accordance with the law. |