POLITICS: Mnangagwa Emerges Zimbabwe's Substantive President

 Mnangagwa Emerges Zimbabwe's Substantive President
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The interim President of Zimbabwe, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly won the keenly contested Zimbabwe's presidential election, making him the second substantive president of the country, following Mr. Robert Mugabe. 

With all 10 provinces declared, Mr. Mnangagwa won 50.8% of votes, compared to 44.3% for opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Police removed opposition officials from the electoral commission stage when they rejected the results.

The chairman of Mr. Chamisa's MDC Alliance said the count could not be verified.

By narrowly winning more than 50% of the vote, Mr. Mnangagwa avoids a run-off election against Mr. Chamisa.

The president said on Twitter he was "humbled", and called the result "a new beginning".

Mr. Mnangagwa, from the governing Zanu-PF party, took over as president last November 2017 from long-serving leader Mr. Mugabe.

"Thank you Zimbabwe!

I am humbled to be elected President of the Second Republic of Zimbabwe.

Though we may have been divided at the polls, we are united in our dreams.

This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity & love, & together build a new Zimbabwe for all!"

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) August 2, 2018

Mr. Chamisa has insisted he is the winner of the presidential poll, telling reporters earlier on Thursday 2nd August 2018 that Zanu-PF was "trying to bastardize the result", something "we will not allow".

But the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) said there was "absolutely no skulduggery".

Rostrum Political crew gathered that six people died after opposition protests in Harare on Wednesday, 1st August 2018 over alleged vote-rigging.

The elections were the first since Mr. Mugabe, 94, was ousted and were intended to set Zimbabwe on a new path following years of repressive rule.