Zimbabwe election: tensions rise amid vote rigging fears

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

Tensions are rising in Zimbabwe as opposition fears intensify that the election count will be rigged, monitors warn of possible violence if the results are contested and authorities brace for protests.

Millions of people voted peacefully on Monday in the first election since the army removed Robert Mugabe from power last year. Long queues of voters formed outside polling stations and turnout was recorded at 75%.

The opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, said early on Tuesday that he was “winning resoundingly”, a claim repeated by senior officials over the course of the day. His supporters gathered at their party’s headquarters in the capital during the afternoon, celebrating victory despite the lack of official results.
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The Zimbabwe electoral commission began announcing results during the afternoon, but only of seven parliamentary constituencies. Six were won by the ruling party, one by the MDC.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/31/zimbabwe-opposition-leader-claims-he-is-on-course-for-election-win

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However you count, over 24 hours with just a handful of results doesn't look right.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Zanu-PF wins majority in Zimbabwe parliament elections, officials say

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party has won the majority of seats in parliament after sweeping rural constituencies by huge margins, official results show.

The parliamentary outcome does not necessarily indicate voters’ choice of president, however. The result in the presidential vote – being contested by Zanu-PF president Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change – is due by 4 August but expected sooner.
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The latest results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission showed Zanu-PF had won at least 109 seats, enough for a majority in the 210-seat lower house of parliament. With more results to be declared, the party has a chance of gaining the two-thirds majority that would allow it to change the constitution at will.

Chamisa’s MDC had won 41 seats. Analysts blamed divisions within the opposition for the low tally.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/01/zanu-pf-wins-majority-of-seats-in-zimbabwe-parliament-elections

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Zimbabwe election: MDC Alliance and troops in Harare clashes

Troops have opened fire in Zimbabwe's capital Harare after opposition supporters went on the rampage.

At least one man has reportedly been shot dead.

The opposition MDC Alliance alleges that the ruling Zanu-PF party has rigged Monday's presidential and parliamentary vote.
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Correspondents stress that Wednesday's violence is confined to the centre of Harare - an opposition stronghold - while other parts of the country remain calm.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45035533

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Three people killed after live ammunition, water cannon and teargas fired in capital

Three people have been killed in Harare as soldiers and police fought running battles with hundreds of protesters, firing live ammunition, teargas and water cannon amid rising tension following Zimbabwe’s presidential election.

The army was deployed in the capital on Wednesday after police proved unable to quell demonstrators who claim Monday’s historic election is being rigged.

By mid-afternoon much of the city centre resembled a war zone, with military helicopters flying overhead, armoured personnel carriers moving through burning debris and patrols of soldiers chasing stone throwers down narrow streets. A pall of smoke filled the sky. On cracked pavements there was glass and – in some places – blood.

Terrified commuters took cover in shop doorways or behind walls still covered in posters bearing portraits of election candidates as volleys of shots rang out and stones flew through the air. Witnesses reported seeing soldiers beating people with makeshift batons.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/01/zanu-pf-wins-majority-of-seats-in-zimbabwe-parliament-elections