Zimbabwe election: Three dead in violent Harare protests as security forces battle demonstrators after Zanu-PF win in parliament vote
Millions peacefully cast their votes but soldiers now deployed in streets as presidential result delayed
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At least three people have been killed as police and soldiers in Harare clashed with opposition protesters amid a delay in announcing the winner of Zimbabwe’s presidential election. The scene in the capital has deteriorated into serious disorder, according to reports on the ground.
Gunfire was also heard after supporters of Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa took to the streets. Mr Chamisa has accused the ruling Zanu-PF party of electoral malfeasance and claimed he won the “popular vote” following Monday’s poll.
Zanu-PF won a two-thirds majority in the national assembly of parliament in the country’s first general election since Robert Mugabe was ousted from power in November 2017. The result means incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party will be empowered to make changes to the constitution at will.
But the result of the presidential poll has not yet been announced. Zimbabwe’s electoral commission has repeatedly revised its stance on when the presidential winner will be announced, with European Union observers questioning the delay.
The EU team identified a string of problems in Monday’s poll. They said a level playing field was not achieved due to voter intimidation, media bias and misuse of state resources, though the largely peaceful process was a clear improvement over the Mugabe era.
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The two main contenders in the presidential race were Mr Mnangagwa, a former deputy president and intelligence chief, and Mr Chamisa, a lawyer and pastor who leads the Movement for Democratic Change.
More than 5.5 million people were registered to vote and turnout was around 70%.
Both candidates issued upbeat assessments of how they did on polling day, with Mr Mnangagwa tweeting: ”I am delighted by the high turnout and citizen engagement so far”.
The election featured a record number of more than 20 presidential candidates and nearly 130 political parties vying for parliamentary seats.
Western election observers were in Zimbabwe, reflecting a freer political environment since the November resignation of Mr Mugabe, who had ruled since independence from white minority rule in 1980.
But there were concerns about bias in state media coverage of the election, a lack of transparency in ballot printing and reports of intimidation by pro-government local leaders who are supposed to stay neutral.
Zimbabwe's election commission has said it now expects to start announcing presidential election results from Thursday because there were allegations of disputes around tallies posted outside polling stations.
The main opposition and ZESN, the main domestic election monitor, had said on Tuesday one in five polling stations - more than 2,000 in all - had not physically posted tallies on their doors, as required by law.
"It depends with whether those who disagree with something would like to use legal remedies but sometime tomorrow we should be able to advise you what time we can, if any, start announcing the presidential election results," the election commission chair, Priscilla Chigumba, told reporters.
The US policy on Zimbabwe will depend on the transparency of this week's election, Congresswoman Karen Bass told reporters in Harare, after the release of the National Democratic Institute's (NDI) preliminary report on the election.
"What is going to impact US policy will be how this process plays out," Ms Bass said. "That is hanging in the air, and I hope that is taken into consideration."
The NDI, a US election observer group, called on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release the presidential election result as quickly and transparently as possible.
Tear gas has been fired in the streets of Harare to disperse stone-throwing opposition supporters.
It came as supporters of Nelson Chamisa's blocked some streets and burned tyres in the capital city.
Before Zimbabwean police fired tear gas in central Harare, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa wrote on Twitter to say he had won the "popular vote".
Zimbabwe's president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has called for calm and patience before the election result is announced.
"We must all demonstrate patience and maturity, and act in a way that puts our people and their safety first," Mr Mnangagwa wrote on Twitter.
Mr Mnangagwa went on to warn against making "provocative statements" as hundreds of angry opposition supporters protested in the capital and riot police fired tear gas.
"Now is the time for responsibility and above all peace," the president said on Twitter.
Live footage has shown an armoured vehicle deployed on the streets of Harare, sending a crowd of protesters scattering.
Our diplomatic editor Kim Sengupta has heard gunfire in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare.
Witnesses told Reuters they had also heard automatic fire.
It comes as armed police attempt to disperse protesters.
An army helicopter has been spotted flying over the capital.
This is the scene in Harare as the aftermath of what was a largely peaceful vote on Monday turns violent.
Police block dozens of opposition party supporters from entering the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission offices in Harare (AP)
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