The parliamentary results strengthened the chances of President Emmerson Mnangagwa holding power, but triggered MDC demonstrations in Harare and fears of clashes between angry opposition supporters and the government.
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official results showed Wednesday, as the opposition MDC protested against alleged widespread fraud and the count continued in the key presidential race.
EU observers are due to give their preliminary report on Zimbabwe’s election later Wednesday, two days after its first ballot since Robert Mugabe was ousted by the military after 37 years in power.
With elections under Mugabe marred by fraud and often deadly violence, his successor Mnangagwa, 75, had promised a free and fair vote and invited international observers.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said of 210 parliamentary seats, 153 had been counted with ZANU-PF winning 110 and the MDC Alliance 41. Several hundred MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) supporters gathered outside the party headquarters in Harare, chanting and shouting that they had won the elections.
Anti-riot police backed by water cannon trucks monitored the protesters. “The results are biased, trying to give the impression that ZANU has won,” said Lawrence Maguranyi, 21, an MDC supporter and university student.
The MDC did not immediately respond to the parliamentary figures but its presidential contender Nelson Chamisa, 40, said the presidential results were being faked. “ZEC seeks to… reverse the people’s presidential election victory. The strategy is meant to prepare Zim mentally to accept fake presidential results,” he tweeted. “We won the popular vote and will defend it!”
Call to refrain from violence
The regional SADC bloc, in its preliminary report, said on Wednesday that the campaign and election had “proceeded in a peaceful and orderly manner and were largely in line” in Zimbabwean law.
It called for any aggrieved candidates to “refrain from any form of violence”. If no presidential candidate wins at least 50 per cent of the ballots cast in the first round, a run-off vote is scheduled for September 8.
Watch video of protesters below:
Source: Times Live
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