The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) recently announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa won the presidential election. However, international election watchdogs and the international community, including Mnangagwa’s main opponent, Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change Party (CCC), have raised doubts about the legitimacy of the election.
The Southern African Development Community’s Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) shared its preliminary findings on the fairness of the election and raised concerns over early closing and late openings at many polling places, observed election intimidation, and excessive delays in the ability to vote.
The US Department of State, in a recent statement, called for an investigation into the fairness of the election. Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller scrutinized the credibility of the electoral process, citing the observation missions’ grave concerns.
Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Florencia Soto Niño-Martínez expressed concern about the arrest of observers, reports of voter intimidation, threats of violence, harassment, and coercion, and called for a peaceful resolution to any disputes arising from the contested election.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) previously expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the election, citing crackdowns against opposition party meetings, police and military preventing rallies, and the detention of opposition party leaders.
The CCC has alleged voting irregularities during the voting and counting processes, with allegations that ballot boxes were re-opened. Authorities reportedly summoned polling officers to fill out new verification forms, with those refusing allegedly being intimidated by authorities. The ZEC has denied these allegations.