About three people were killed in Harare on Wednesday as soldiers in military vehicles rolled through the Zimbabwean capital and opened fire on opposition activists protesting against claimed electoral fraud.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF party won 109 seats in parliament against 41 for the Movement for Democratic Change, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said yesterday. But EU observers had criticised in the general election.
The turmoil started soon after opposition leader Nelson Chamisa claimed he had won the popular vote.
Scores of his supporters who had been burning tyres in the streets attacked riot police near the electoral commission headquarters. Officers responded with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.
Supporters of the opposition party tore down a billboard of incumbent Mr Mnangagwa, and marched to the gates of the electoral commission, which were padlocked by police.
Smoke rose from burning vehicles and lorries carrying security forces circulated the streets of the capital.