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Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF on track to pull off narrow win in Zimbabwe election Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF on track to pull off narrow win in Zimbabwe's election
(35 minutes later)
Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s president and the leader of the ruling Zanu-PF party, appears on track to achieve a narrow win and avoid a run-off in the country’s historic and hotly contested presidential election. Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s president and the leader of the ruling Zanu-PF party, appears on track to achieve a narrow win and avoid a runoff in the country’s historic and hotly contested presidential election.
Officials from Zimbabwe’s electoral commission (ZEC) announced late on Thursday night that Mnangagwa had received about 2.15m votes out of approximately 4m cast in nine out of 10 provinces where counts had been completed. Results for the final province, Mashonaland West, which has 600,000 registered voters and is known as a Zanu-PF stronghold, are likely to be declared early on Friday morning. Officials from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced late on Thursday night that Mnangagwa had received about 2.15m votes out of approximately 4m cast in nine out of 10 provinces where counts had been completed. Results for the final province, Mashonaland West, which has 600,000 registered voters and is known as a Zanu-PF stronghold, are likely to be declared early on Friday morning.
Nelson Chamisa, the candidate of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), won 1.93m votes in the nine provinces, the ZEC said.Nelson Chamisa, the candidate of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), won 1.93m votes in the nine provinces, the ZEC said.
The election was the first to be held in the former British colony since Robert Mugabe, the 94-year-old autocrat who ruled for 37 years, was ousted by the army nine months ago. Its result will determine the future of the impoverished nation of 16m for decades. The election was the first to be held in the former British colony since Robert Mugabe, the 94-year-old autocrat who ruled for 37 years, was ousted by the army nine months ago. Its result may determine the future of the impoverished nation of 16 million people for decades to come.
The count took more than three days, leading to growing tensions and calls from the international community for a swift resolution. Three people were shot dead when the army fired on opposition protesters in the centre of Harare, the capital, on Wednesday afternoon.The count took more than three days, leading to growing tensions and calls from the international community for a swift resolution. Three people were shot dead when the army fired on opposition protesters in the centre of Harare, the capital, on Wednesday afternoon.
A joint statement by foreign election observers released shortly before the results were announced expressed “grave concern” over the deadly violence and urged the electoral commission to release the full results “expeditiously” and in a transparent manner.A joint statement by foreign election observers released shortly before the results were announced expressed “grave concern” over the deadly violence and urged the electoral commission to release the full results “expeditiously” and in a transparent manner.
The statement by European Union, US, Commonwealth, African Union and other observer missions denounced the “excessive use of force” used to calm Wednesday’s protests and urged Zimbabwe’s army and police to use restraint.The statement by European Union, US, Commonwealth, African Union and other observer missions denounced the “excessive use of force” used to calm Wednesday’s protests and urged Zimbabwe’s army and police to use restraint.
The early results were broadly in line with expectations as Zanu-PF had swept to a two-thirds majority in simultaneous parliamentary elections. However, the outcome will be contested by the MDC, which has repeatedly claimed the results have been rigged.The early results were broadly in line with expectations as Zanu-PF had swept to a two-thirds majority in simultaneous parliamentary elections. However, the outcome will be contested by the MDC, which has repeatedly claimed the results have been rigged.
Chamisa told reporters before the results were announced that he was confident of victory and that his party would do “lots of things within the confines of legality and the constitution to defend our vote”.Chamisa told reporters before the results were announced that he was confident of victory and that his party would do “lots of things within the confines of legality and the constitution to defend our vote”.
Asked if he would tell his followers to protest, the MDC leader said that his people were already on the streets. “That’s where they stay. If anything I will need to call them off the streets ... there has to be a government of the people,” he said.Asked if he would tell his followers to protest, the MDC leader said that his people were already on the streets. “That’s where they stay. If anything I will need to call them off the streets ... there has to be a government of the people,” he said.
Although the campaign has been free of the systematic violence that marred previous polls, the MDC has repeatedly claimed it has been hindered by a flawed electoral roll, ballot paper malpractice, voter intimidation, bias in the electoral commission and handouts to voters from the ruling party. Several of its complaints have been upheld by monitors’ reports.Although the campaign has been free of the systematic violence that marred previous polls, the MDC has repeatedly claimed it has been hindered by a flawed electoral roll, ballot paper malpractice, voter intimidation, bias in the electoral commission and handouts to voters from the ruling party. Several of its complaints have been upheld by monitors’ reports.
Eighteen opposition officials were detained by police during a raid on the MDC’s headquarters in Harare on Thursday afternoon.Eighteen opposition officials were detained by police during a raid on the MDC’s headquarters in Harare on Thursday afternoon.
Many opposition supporters believe results were manipulated during the count. Both parties should have access to complete records from polling stations, which will now be used to settle any disputes.Many opposition supporters believe results were manipulated during the count. Both parties should have access to complete records from polling stations, which will now be used to settle any disputes.
Zimbabwe hopes to reintegrate into the international community after years of isolation. Foreign powers will now have to decide whether the elections gives Mnangagwa and the Zanu-PF authorities the legitimacy needed to rejoin institutions such as the Commonwealth. Zimbabwe hopes to reintegrate into the international community after years of isolation. Foreign powers will now have to decide whether the elections gives Mnangagwa and the Zanu-PF the legitimacy needed to seek to rejoin institutions such as the Commonwealth.
Without a massive and rapid infusion of foreign aid, the country faces total economic breakdown.Without a massive and rapid infusion of foreign aid, the country faces total economic breakdown.
Polls had given Mnangagwa, a 75-year-old, dour former spy chief known as “the Crocodile” for his reputation for ruthless cunning, a slim lead over Chamisa, 40, a brilliant if sometimes wayward orator. Polls had given Mnangagwa, the 75-year-old, dour former spy chief known as “the Crocodile” for his reputation for ruthless cunning, a slim lead over Chamisa, 40, a brilliant if sometimes wayward orator.
Support for Zanu-PF has historically been strongest in rural areas, where more than two-thirds of Zimbabwe’s voters live. The party dominated its traditional heartland provinces of Mashonaland Central and East, while the MDC won the major cities of Harare and Bulawayo convincingly.Support for Zanu-PF has historically been strongest in rural areas, where more than two-thirds of Zimbabwe’s voters live. The party dominated its traditional heartland provinces of Mashonaland Central and East, while the MDC won the major cities of Harare and Bulawayo convincingly.
Ruling party loyalists defended the lengthy delay before the results were announced.Ruling party loyalists defended the lengthy delay before the results were announced.
“The world is watching. We cannot go outside the law. We cannot make a mistake. We want to make Zimbabwe an example of democracy in Africa,” said Bright Matonga, a former Zanu-PF information minister.“The world is watching. We cannot go outside the law. We cannot make a mistake. We want to make Zimbabwe an example of democracy in Africa,” said Bright Matonga, a former Zanu-PF information minister.
For the first time since Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980 after a brutal guerrilla war against a white supremacist regime, Mugabe was not on the ballot paper. In an astonishing intervention on Sunday, the former president said he would not vote for his former party, Zanu-PF, or the current president, and endorsed Chamisa.For the first time since Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980 after a brutal guerrilla war against a white supremacist regime, Mugabe was not on the ballot paper. In an astonishing intervention on Sunday, the former president said he would not vote for his former party, Zanu-PF, or the current president, and endorsed Chamisa.
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AfricaAfrica
Emmerson MnangagwaEmmerson Mnangagwa
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