One man dies as Zim soldiers open fire on protesters
Protests in Zimbabwe’s historic elections turned bloody on Wednesday as a man was shot dead during demonstrations over alleged vote fraud.
The man died after soldiers fired live ammunition during opposition protests in downtown Harare.
The polls – the first since autocratic president Robert Mugabe was forced out by a brief military takeover in November – had offered Zimbabwe the chance of turning the page on a brutal chapter of its past. But the mood quickly descended into anger and chaos as supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition declared they had been cheated.
Official results showed the ruling Zanu-PF had easily won most seats in the parliamentary ballot, strengthening President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s prospects in the presidential vote. “You said you were better than Mugabe – you are the picture of Mugabe,” shouted a man.
MDC supporters burnt tyres and pulled down street signs as protests spread from the party headquarters in Harare.
“Now is the time for responsibility and above all, peace,” Mnangagwa tweeted. “At this crucial time, I call on everyone to desist from provocative declarations and statements.”
EU observers had earlier said they found an “improved political climate” in the elections but an “un-level playing field and lack of trust in the process”. It called for transparency in the release of results.
EU chief observer Elmar Brok said there were “efforts to undermine the free expression of the will of the electors through inducements, soft intimidation, pressure and coercion ... to try to ensure a vote in favour of the ruling party.”
In Mugabe’s 37-year reign, elections were often marred by fraud and deadly violence, and EU observers were banned in 2002. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said on Wednesday that of 210 parliamentary seats, 153 had been counted with ZANU-PF winning 110 and the MDC 41.
MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, 40, said the presidential results were fraudulent. “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!”
The regional Sadc bloc, in its preliminary report, said the campaign and election had “proceeded in a peaceful and orderly manner” and “largely in line” in Zimbabwean law.
It called for aggrieved candidates to “refrain from any form of violence”.
If no presidential candidate wins at least 50% of the ballots cast in the first round, a run-off vote is scheduled for September 8.–
You said you were better than Mugabe – you are the picture of Mugabe