Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa wins re-election after troubled vote

HARARE – Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected for a second and remaining time period Saturday as outcomes had been introduced a lot sooner than anticipated following a troubled vote within the southern African nation.

An opposition get together spokesperson stated inside minutes of the outcomes being introduced that they’d reject them as “hastily assembled without proper verification.”

Mnangagwa received 52.6% of the vote, the Zimbabwe Election Fee stated at a late-night announcement within the capital, Harare. Foremost opposition chief Nelson Chamisa received 44% of the vote, the fee stated.

The end result will seemingly be scrutinized after election observers from the European Union and African Union raised questions over the setting within the buildup to the vote and pointed to an environment of intimidation towards Chamisa’s supporters.

The election was on account of be held on simply at some point, final Wednesday, however voting was prolonged to Thursday after delays and issues with the printing of poll papers. Outcomes of the presidential election had been set down for Monday however got here simply two days after the ballots closed, mucvh before anticipated.

“We reject any results hastily assembled without proper verification,” stated Promise Mkwananzi, a spokesperson for Chamisa’s Residents Coalition for Change Get together. “We will advise citizens on the next steps as the situation develops.”

The end result retains the ruling ZANU-PF get together within the presidency. ZANU-PF has been in authorities for 43 years since Zimbabwe received independence from white minority rule in 1980. Mnangagwa changed long-ruling autocrat Robert Mugabe in a coup in 2017 and received a disputed election by a razor-thin margin towards Chamisa in 2018.

Forward of Saturday’s announcement of the outcomes, dozens of armed police with water cannons guarded the nationwide outcomes heart, the scene of lethal violence after the earlier vote 5 years in the past when the military killed six folks following protests over delays in saying presidential election outcomes.

This election was marked by extra hassle in a rustic with a historical past of violent and disputed votes.

Voting solely closed on Thursday after delays in distributing poll papers within the capital, Harare, and different city areas prompted Mnangagwa to increase voting by a day. Many citizens slept exterior polling stations in city areas which can be opposition strongholds to forged their ballots.

Many individuals within the nation of 15 million are certain to view the end result with suspicion.

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AP Africa information: https://apnews.com