Mnangagwa wins Zimbabwe’s presidency after deadly protests

Bloomberg

Emmerson Mnangagwa won Zimbabwe’s presidential election, a victory overshadowed by deadly protests, opposition allegations of rigging and threats of legal action, and criticism by observers that the contest was flawed.
The controversy surrounding the vote may undermine efforts to reunify the southern African nation and rebuild an economy battered by almost two decades of misrule under Robert Mugabe, who was forced to quit in November. The country also risks a repeat of unrest that has claimed six lives so far, when soldiers fired live rounds at fleeing demonstrators.
Mnangagwa, leader of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, secured 50.8 percent of the vote, while his main rival Nelson Chamisa, who leads the Movement for Democratic Change, won 44.3 percent, Priscilla Chigumba, a judge who chairs the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, told reporters in the capital, Harare. Results showed Zanu-PF winning almost 70 percent of the legislative vote.
“We delivered a free, fair and credible election as promised,” Mnangagwa told reporters at State House. “The violence of the past two days must be condemned loudly. We can’t allow the violent actions of the few to detract from the democratic aspirations of the many.”
Court Challenge
Chamisa insisted he and his party were the real victors, with its tallies showing it had won 56 percent of the vote, and promised to mount a court challenge to the outcome.
The process was “fraudulent, illegal, illegitimate” and constituted “a coup against the will of the people,” Chamisa said at a press conference at Harare’s Bronte Hotel that was delayed by riot police armed with batons and shields who tried to disperse assembled journalists before withdrawing. “We have so much evidence to show how this election was rigged.”
The post-election violence will erode the international goodwill towards Zimbabwe since Mnangagwa replaced Mugabe as president and pledged to hold credible elections, according to Christopher McKee, chief executive officer of New York-based risk advisory firm PRS Group.

Military Involvement
“It matters little whether this heavy-handed response came on Mnangagwa’s orders,” McKee said in emailed comments. “Evidence that the president lacks the authority to control the security forces will be just as damning in terms of the impact on Zimbabwe’s international rehabilitation. Risks related to military involvement in politics and the quality and responsiveness of political institutions will remain a concern in Zimbabwe.”
Zanu-PF’s election pledges include an undertaking to respect property rights and maintain a stable and predictable business environment, while also ensuring the retail industry is reserved for black Zimbabweans and forcing mineral producers to process part of their output within the country to create jobs. It’s targeting $5 billion a year in foreign direct investment, up from the $289 million the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development says the country received last year.
Mnangagwa described the violence as “an unfortunate incident” and called on Chamisa to work with him to promote peace and unity, saying he had “a crucial role to play.” Zimbabwe is a democracy, and anyone has the right to challenge the results in court, he said.