MDC demonstrators confront police outside electoral commission center

August 1, 2018
| Report Focus News

A crowd of around 100 Zimbabwe opposition MDC supporters gathered outside a Harare hotel on Wednesday where election results were being announced but police blocked the entrance to the building.

“You can’t rig our election … this is a military government”, the crowd shouted. The situation was under control as police secured the area.

Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official results showed. The parliamentary results strengthened the chances of President Emmerson Mnangagwa holding power, but triggered MDC demonstrations in Harare and fears of clashes between angry opposition supporters and the government.

With elections under Mugabe marred by fraud and often deadly violence, his successor Mnangagwa, 75, had promised a free and fair vote and invited international observers.

The ZEC said of 210 parliamentary seats, 153 had been counted with ZANU-PF winning 110 and the MDC Alliance 41.

Anti-riot police backed by water cannon trucks monitored the protesters.

“The results are biased, trying to give the impression that ZANU has won,” said Lawrence Maguranyi, 21, an MDC supporter and university student.