Zimbabwe election: Emmerson Mnangagwa declared winner as defeated opposition leader rejects result - as it happened

Delayed result follows deaths of six people in post-election clashes with army

Zimbabwe election: Shots fired at protesting crowds in Harare as violence escalates

Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former spy chief installed after Robert Mugabe's removal in a coup in November, won Zimbabwe's presidential election after a poll marred by the deaths of six people in an army crackdown on opposition protests.

After two days of claims and counterclaims, the 75-year-old incumbent secured a comfortable victory, polling 2.46 million votes against 2.15 million for 40-year-old opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Earlier in the week, soldiers beat and shot at opposition protesters after Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Mr Chamisa claimed he had won the “popular vote” and accused Zanu-PF, the ruling party, of fraud.

Police raided MDC offices and detained 18 people while a search warrant suggested Mr Chamisa and others were suspected of the crimes of ”possession of dangerous weapons” and “public violence”; Mr Mnangagwa has publicly accused his opponent of inciting violence.

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Mr Mnangagwa’s spokesman declared on state television that no order was issued by the army to clear central Harare, terming such reports “fake news”.

George Charamba said Thursday was “a normal working day”, though nearly all shops in the downtown area were shuttered and the streets quieter than usual.

Commonwealth observers condemned the approach taken by the army in Harare yesterday, with former Ghanaian president John Mahama saying the bloc “categorically [denounced] the excessive use of force against unarmed civilians”.

The electoral commission announced yesterday that the ruling Zanu-PF party, led by Mr Mnangagwa, had won a two-thirds majority in the national assembly of parliament.

European Union observers said they had identified a string of problems with Monday’s election, though it had been an improvement over polls conducted under former leader Robert Mugabe.

Voter intimidation, misuse of state resources and bias in state media meant a “level playing field” was not achieved, they said.

Key Points

• Zanu-PF declare victory and urge supporters to 'celebrate with restraint'
• MDC headquarters sealed off by police
• Death toll from Wednesday's clashes rises to six
• Emmerson Mnangagwa declared winner by Zimbabwe's electoral commission

[2 August 2018 22:14 · Kristin Hugo]

Mnangagwa also won in Masvingo province, Chamisa received 117 196 votes and Mnangagwa got 319 073 votes 

[2 August 2018 22:20 · Kristin Hugo]

Chamisa wins in Matebeleland North receiving 137 611 votes while Mnangagwa gets 111 452 votes 

[2 August 2018 22:22 · Kristin Hugo]

In the Midlands province, Chamisa received 255 059 votes and Mnangagwa received 350 754 votes

Chamisa narrowly takes Manicaland after he gets 296 429 votes and Mnangagwa 292 938.

[2 August 2018 22:24 · Kristin Hugo]

We have results from 9 out of the 10 provinces and as it stands Mnangagwa has 2.15 million votes against 1.93 million for opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

[2 August 2018 22:25 · Kristin Hugo]

With only one province left to declare Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the favourite to win.

[2 August 2018 23:22 · Kristin Hugo]

We are still waiting on the final results from the Mashonaland West province. 

[2 August 2018 23:22 · Kristin Hugo]

The province is thought to be a stronghold for the ruling party, ZANU-PF.

[2 August 2018 23:30 · Kristin Hugo]

Zimbabwe’s opposition party has rejected the presidential result because it was not able to verify the results, according to the MDC party chairman.

[2 August 2018 23:47 · Kristin Hugo]

The final results are in and the tenth province of Mashonaland West has gone to Mnangagwa. 

[2 August 2018 23:48 · Kristin Hugo]

In the Mashonaland West province, Chamisa received 217,732  votes and Mnangagwa received 312,958 votes