Amid Election Fraud Claims, Emmerson Mnangagwa Declared Zimbabwe’s President

The Reelected President Emmerson Mnangagwa says anyone questioning the Zimbabwe presidential election results should take their case to court. 

Speaking at the State House on Sunday amid heavy police presence in parts of the capital Mnangagwa said, “I competed with them and am happy that I have won the race. Those who feel the race was not run properly should know where to go.”

His statement comes as an opposition leader accused him of “gigantic fraud”.

Mnangagwa emerged as the winner of the Zimbabwe presidential election after polling 52.6% of the vote. The election commission that announced the results noted that the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa got 44% of the vote.

Chamisa reacts against the Zimbabwe election results

Chamisa noted that the CCC would not accept the results. Without giving details, he hinted that the opposition would form the new government. 

Addressing newsmen and party officials, Chamisa said, “We will not wait for five years. There has to be a change now.”

He however did not answer questions on whether his party would challenge the results in court.

Speaking of the election on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Chamisa wrote, “It’s a blatant and gigantic fraud. Do not leave us, particularly our fellow brothers and sisters in the region and on the continent. We count on your solidarity as we seek to resolve this political crisis.”

Zimbabwe Presidential election: What you need to know

Two observers’ groups reported that police raided their data centres and arrested staff and volunteers so they could not independently verify the results.

In a statement, The Election Resource Centre and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network said this “cast a shadow over the entire election process”. The police were not immediately available for comment.

Observers from the regional body SADC and from the African Union also criticized the election process.

Reports say the contest was heavily skewed in favour of the ZANU-PF ruling party, which has been in power for more than four decades.

However, ZANU-PF denies it has an unfair advantage or seeks to influence elections through rigging.

Mnangagwa first became president when longtime strongman Robert Mugabe was toppled in a 2017 military coup after 37 years in power. 

Mnangagwa’s first term was marked by runaway inflation, currency shortages and sky-high unemployment.

This is Mnangagwa’s second and possibly last term as the constitution limits presidential terms to two.