Zimbabwe Election Update Live: Mnangagwa Takes Strong Lead In Presidential Results

Zimbabwe's incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa is on course to be elected as the country’s leader after taking a strong lead in the results.

International observers condemn yesterday’s violence - which left six dead - and urge restraint. Electoral officials released tallies from nine out of 10 provinces.

Mr Mnangagwa had received 2.15 million votes against 1.93 million for opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Zimbabwe Election Update Live: Mnangagwa Takes Strong Lead In Presidential Results

The results come following days of tension across Zimbabwe which has seen at least six people killed after violence erupted on the streets.

Opposition protestors have accused Mr Mnangagwa’s ruling ZANU-PF party of using the three days since the election to rig the vote in his favour.
Zimbabwe army soldiers, backed by armoured vehicles, cleared the streets of Harare yesterday (Wednesday) as opposition supporters protested the delay.

Police say six people were killed in violence in the capital. Troops armed with live ammunition were deployed to disperse protesters who had set fires and were throwing stones.

The use of troops and their heavy-handed tactics have been condemned by international observers and tarnished incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s attempts to rid Zimbabwe’s of its pariah status after decades of repression under his predecessor, Robert Mugabe. www.express.co.uk