Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa in talks with opposition's Chamisa to defuse tension

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he is talking to the leader of the main opposition party, Nelson Chamisa to devise ways of diffusing tensions over this week’s presidential election after violent clashes left at least three people dead on the streets of Harare.

The president took to Twitter to condole with the families of victims of Thursday’s clashes between opposition supporters and the security agencies.

‘‘I am therefore calling for an independent investigation into what occurred in Harare yesterday. We believe in transparency and accountability, and those responsible should be identified and brought to justice,’‘ Mnangagwa said.

Mnangagwa, whose ruling ZANU-PF party has already secured a parliamentary majority, called for unity and peaceful settlement of differences.

‘‘Together, we must lead by example and show all Zimbabweans that peace is paramount.This land is home to all of us, and we will sink or swim together.’‘

Opposition supporters clashed with police on Wednesday following the announcement by Zimbabwe’s electoral commission that presidential election results would not be ready until Thursday.

Chamisa, who had already declared on Twitter, that his party had won the presidential election said the delays in announcing the result, were attempts by the ruling party to manipulate the ‘people’s will’.

‘‘We have won the popular vote. You voted for total Change in this past election!We have won this one together. No amount of results manipulation will alter your will,’‘ Chamisa twetted on Wednesday before the peace in Harare was broken.

THANK YOU ZIMBABWE …I’m humbled by the support you have given to me as a Presidential Candidate. We have won the popular vote. You voted for total Change in this past election!We have won this one together. No amount of results manipulation will alter your WILL #Godisinit

— Nelson Chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) August 1, 2018

Election observers from the European Union and the United States had also urged the electoral commission to start releasing results of the presidential election, saying further delays would undermine the credibility of the vote.

Aftermath of election violence

Many shops were closed on a quiet Thursday morning in Harare, where scattered debris, charred remains from fires and a few dozen soldiers patrolling the streets acted as a reminder of the violence that erupted a day before.

“Yesterday was a very sad day for Zimbabwe,” said minibus taxi driver Gift, glancing over his shoulder as a soldier smoking a cigarette looked on.

“We hope things remain quiet and we can all just forget about this election. We don’t know if it was fair. The government will do what they want.”

The deployment of soldiers and their beating of unarmed protesters set back President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to shed Zimbabwe’s pariah status after decades of repression under Robert Mugabe, who was ousted in a coup in November.

Zimbabwe govt warns opposition; US, UK bemoan post-poll violence