President Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulated himself on continuing to lead a “mature democracy” and an “independent and sovereign nation” the day after his re-election announcement.
The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, congratulated himself this Sunday for remaining at the head of a “mature democracy” and an “independent and sovereign nation”, a day after the announcement of his re-election, after a convulsive vote.
“We have shown that we are a mature democracy,” said the 80-year-old head of state, re-elected for a second term, in a speech delivered at the presidential palace in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, quoted by France-Presse.
The newly elected president thanked the observation missions “that witnessed the electoral process without prejudice.”
“We are proud to be an independent and sovereign nation,” added Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Earlier in the week, observers from the European Union, Southern African (SADC) and Commonwealth countries unanimously questioned the fairness of the vote.
Zimbabweans went to the polls on Wednesday and Thursday to elect their president and their deputies.
The vote, which was due to end Wednesday night, had to be extended until the next day due to shortcomings, including a lack of ballot papers, especially in Harare, an opposition stronghold.
According to the official results announced on Saturday night, Mnangagwa, nicknamed “the crocodile” for his time as a guerrilla, obtained 52.6% of the vote, compared to 44% for Nelson Chamisa, his main rival at the head of the party. the first opposition party (Citizens for Change Coalition, CCC).
The CCC refused to accept the “distorted” results, denouncing a “hastily conducted recount without proper verification”.
The results were published around 11:30 p.m., some 48 hours after the polls closed.
International observers pointed to “serious problems” that undermine the “transparency” of the vote and the violation of “many international norms” that govern democratic elections, such as the absence of voters on the lists or intimidation at polling stations.
The vote took place, however, in a “calm and peaceful” context.
“As a sovereign State, we ask all our guests to respect our national institutions,” Mnangagwa stressed, preferring to draw attention to “the enormous participation in the exercise of the sacred right that is voting.”
According to the electoral commission, almost 69% of registered voters went to the polls.
The campaign in the country, led with an iron fist by liberation hero Robert Mugabe until the 2017 coup, was marked by a strong crackdown on the opposition.
In 2018, Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s successor, was elected by a narrow margin (50.8%).
The army fired on protesters two days after the elections, killing six people.
Nelson Chamisa, who was already his opponent at the time, challenged the result, but the court dismissed the case.
Source: Observadora
