UNITED NATIONS: In the aftermath of Zimbabwe’s recent presidential election, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a peaceful and transparent resolution to any challenges that may arise concerning the legitimacy of the electoral process. The election saw the re-election of Emmerson Mnangagwa to the office of the President, but concerns have been raised about the fairness and integrity of the election.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is 80 years old, secured approximately 53% of the votes, while Nelson Chamisa, the 45-year-old leader of the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change, gathered 44% of the ballots, according to the Zimbabwe Elections Commission‘s announcement on Saturday.
Secretary General Guterres expressed his concern through his spokesperson, Florencia Soto Niño, over various issues that have come to light regarding the election. Reports of the arrest of observers, voter intimidation, threats of violence, harassment, and coercion have raised red flags within the international community.
The differing perspectives on the election results have added to the complexity of the situation. While Nelson Chamisa decried the election as a “blatant and gigantic fraud,” President Mnangagwa maintained that the election was conducted transparently and fairly, even under the scrutiny of broad daylight.
The victory of President Mnangagwa marks yet another success for the ZANU-PF party, which has held power in Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from white rule in 1980. However, international observers have expressed concerns about the conduct of the election. Reports suggest that the election was carried out in an atmosphere tainted by fear and intimidation, which undoubtedly impacted the electoral process.
The voting process itself encountered challenges, with some locations extending their voting hours into Thursday due to difficulties in distributing ballots. Moreover, the announcement of the election results on Saturday arrived earlier than initially anticipated, raising questions about the swiftness of the outcome.
Nicole Beardsworth, a politics lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, shared her observations regarding the expedited results announcement, noting that many individuals are puzzled by the speed at which the outcomes were made public.
