Emmerson Mnangagwa, the incumbent President of Zimbabwe, has been re-elected for a second and final term. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Mnangagwa the winner with 52.6% of the vote, surpassing his main opponent, Nelson Chamisa, who garnered 44%. Mnangagwa’s victory follows his ascension to power in 2017 after a military coup that ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe.
The election’s legitimacy has been disputed by the opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), with spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi asserting that they did not endorse the final vote count and deemed the results as “false.” The CCC plans to reveal its response to the election outcome soon.
Zimbabwe’s recent elections have been closely observed across Southern Africa and beyond, evaluating the enduring support for Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF party, which has been in power since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. The election process faced criticism due to delays, allegations of voter suppression, and rigging, leading to questions about its fairness.
International observers, including the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), expressed concerns over the election’s conduct. They cited various irregularities, such as voting delays, issues with voter rolls, restrictions on opposition rallies, and biased state media coverage.
Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya highlighted the significant irregularities in the election process, suggesting that the CCC has substantial grounds for legally contesting the results. However, ZANU-PF has denied any accusations of manipulating the election outcomes.
ZEC confirmed that Mnangagwa received over 2.3 million votes, while Chamisa obtained over 1.9 million, avoiding a potential run-off election due to Mnangagwa’s majority win. The voter turnout was reported at 69%.
The announcement of the presidential results followed scrutiny from SADC and other observers, with Nicole Beardsworth, a politics lecturer, remarking on the timing and the nature of ZEC’s response to the critiques.
In the parliamentary elections, ZANU-PF secured a majority, winning 136 of the 210 contested seats, with the CCC obtaining 73 seats. The additional 60 seats reserved for women will be appointed through a proportional representation system. Mnangagwa, often referred to as “The Crocodile” and previously seen as Mugabe’s right-hand man, has been a pivotal figure in Zimbabwe’s political landscape, having served in various government roles before becoming President.
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