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| 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 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. |
| 'No skulduggery' | '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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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 also called for calm, saying Zimbabwe had an "historic opportunity" for a brighter future. | The US embassy in Harare also called for calm, saying Zimbabwe had an "historic opportunity" for a brighter future. |
| 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. |
| 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". |
| 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: | 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 frontrunners: |
| Zec said the verification of the presidential election result was was "going very well", but did not give a clear indication of when they will be released. | Zec said the verification of the presidential election result was was "going very well", but did not give a clear indication of when they will be released. |
| The electoral commision has until Saturday to announce the result. | The electoral commision 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," the Commonwealth mission said. | "The electoral process is yet to be concluded. The greatest test of leadership is called for now," the Commonwealth mission said. |