Emmerson Mnangagwa narrowly defeated rival, Nelson Chamisa, in the presidential elections, to assume the throne as Zimbabwe’s head of state.
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has congratulated Mnangagwa on his victory.
Zimbabwe Election Results: Ramaphosa Congratulates President Mnangagwa |
Zimbabwe Election-Related Riots
Vicious riots broke out in the nation’s capital, Harare, immediately following the voting process, with official opposition party leader of the MDC, Chamisa, throwing doubt on the reliability of the voting process and subsequent results.It’s been reported that six people have died as a result of election-related clashes on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe Election Results: Ramaphosa Congratulates President Mnangagwa |
Ramaphosa on Zimbabwe election
A statement regarding Ramaphosa’s congratulatory phone call to Mnangagwa, reads:
“President Ramaphosa has appealed to all political leaders and the people of Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the election and should they have challenges, they must follow legal remedies provided for in the Constitution and electoral law.”
It’s been reported that Mnangagwa only just managed to scrape through a victory, with the elected president gathering 50.8% of the vote.
Nelson Chamisa came in second with 44.3% of the vote, and since rejected the results outright, sparking fears of further protest action.
Zimbabwe election results: Free and fair?
Chamisa has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of siding with Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF, saying:
Zimbabwe Election Results: Ramaphosa Congratulates President Mnangagwa |
Meanwhile, in contrast to the EU report – both the African Union (AU) and the SADC have endorsed the Zimbabwe election results.
Zimbabwe Election Results: Ramaphosa Congratulates President Mnangagwa |
“President Ramaphosa concluded his phone call by expressing his commitment to working closely with the president elect, Mr Mnangagwa to enhance the historical, political and fraternal relations which exist between South Africa and Zimbabwe, with particular emphasis on strengthening economic cooperation in priority areas as mutually identified by the two countries.”