International calls for restraint in Zimbabwe

Troops opened fire to disperse protesters in Harare Pic: REUTERS[/caption]

A government crackdown in Zimbabwe after Monday’s elections has prompted international calls for restraint.

The UN and former colonial power the UK both expressed concern about the violence, in which three people were killed after troops opened fire. Parliamentary results gave victory to the ruling Zanu-PF party in the first vote since the removal in November of long-time leader Robert Mugabe. But the opposition says Zanu-PF has rigged the election. The result of the presidential vote is not yet known. The opposition MDC Alliance insists its candidate, Nelson Chamisa, beat the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Zanu-PF, which has been in power for 38 years since the country gained its independence, denies there has been any rigging and has called for calm. The government was in talks with Mr Chamisa to diffuse the crisis and “we must maintain this dialogue in order to protect the peace we hold dear”, President Mnangagwa said. He called for an independent investigation to ensure that those behind Wednesday’s violence were brought to justice, Mr Mnangagwa added in a series of tweets. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Zimbabwe’s politicians to exercise restraint, while UK foreign office minister Harriett Baldwin said she was “deeply concerned” by the violence. The US embassy in Harare urged the army to “use restraint” on Twitter, saying the country had an “historic opportunity” for a brighter future.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"] Opposition supporters are angered by the delay in results and mistrust the electoral commission pic: REUTERS[/caption]

Human rights group Amnesty International’s acting secretary general Colm O Cuanachain said in a press release that the “militarisation” of the election aftermath was “muzzling freedom of expression, association and assembly”. “People must be guaranteed their right to protest,” he said. No violence was reported on Thursday. A truckload of armed policemen and soldiers were driving around the city shouting, “Behave yourself, people of Zimbabwe.”

What happened after the vote?

The country’s electoral commission said that Zanu-PF had won a two-thirds majority in parliament – prompting protests in the capital, Harare. Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the government would not tolerate the protests.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"] Troops opened fire to disperse protesters in Harare pic: REUTERS[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"] Police officers remain on the streets of the capital pic: REUTERS[/caption]

The opposition “are testing our resolve”, he said, “and I think they are making a big mistake.” A spokesman for Mr Chamisa condemned the deployment of soldiers and the subsequent loss of life. “Soldiers are trained to kill during war. Are civilians enemies of the state?” he asked. “There is no explanation whatsoever for the brutality that we saw today.”

Which results have been declared?

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has so far announced victory in 140 seats for Zanu-PF, with 58 for the MDC Alliance, ZBC state media reported. There are 210 seats in the National Assembly’s lower house. More than five million people were registered to vote, and there was a turnout of 70%.

ZBC had reported that the electoral commission would announce the presidential results at 12:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on Wednesday, but only parliamentary results were read out. The BBC’s Shingai Nyoka reports that the announcement on the presidential poll was not made because representatives of some of the 23 candidates had failed to turn up to verify the results. A presidential candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win outright. Otherwise, a run-off election will be held on 8 September.

What are election observers saying?

The EU mission criticised the delay in announcing the presidential results. Zec has until Saturday to do so.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"] The electoral commission says 70% of registered voters took part in the election[/caption]

It said it had observed several problems, including media bias, voter intimidation and mistrust in the electoral commission, adding that there was an “improved political climate, but un-level playing field and lack of trust”. This is the first time in 16 years that the government has allowed EU and US election monitors into the country. The African Union mission has said the elections “took place in a very peaceful environment” and “were highly competitive”. It added that it could not confirm opposition parties’ complaints of vote-buying, intimidation by the state and bias by traditional leaders. A preliminary report by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) observers said the elections were largely peaceful and conducted in accordance with the law. Source: BBC]]>