In a gripping turn of events, Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has boldly proclaimed his triumph in the country’s recent presidential election. This comes as he vehemently rejects the official outcome that was announced earlier.
The official election results, disclosed on Saturday, declared the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the winner, securing 52.6% of the votes. On the other hand, Chamisa garnered 44%, as per the official count.
Taking to social media on Sunday, Chamisa didn’t mince words as he labeled these results “a blatant and massive fraud.” He took it a step further by holding a press conference in Harare, where he confidently declared himself the victor.
At the press conference, Chamisa emphatically stated, “We have emerged victorious in this election.” Leading the Citizens Coalition for Change, he emphasized, “The leadership mantle rightfully belongs to us. The declaration of Mnangagwa as the leader has left us genuinely perplexed.”
Responding to the opposition’s claims of fraud, President Mnangagwa stood firm in defending his contested win earlier on Sunday.
“I competed alongside them, and I am content with my victory in this race,” Mnangagwa expressed from his official residence in Harare. He added, “For those who question the fairness of the race, the appropriate channels are available to address such concerns.”
During the course of the election, a development of concern emerged when authorities took into custody 41 election monitors from local Zimbabwean organizations, and their computers were confiscated.
Election observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as the Commonwealth and the European Union, voiced their observations. They highlighted that the campaign was marred by banned opposition gatherings, skewed state media coverage, challenges with voter registration, and instances of intimidation.
In regions where the opposition held a significant presence, voters encountered substantial delays at polling stations, leading to a two-day extension of voting in specific areas.
In the midst of these challenges, President Mnangagwa, whose ZANU-PF party has maintained a hold on power for over four decades, confidently declared Zimbabwe to be a “mature democracy” on Sunday, in contrast to the reports of irregularities.