Zimbabwe election results 2018: Shots fired and police deployed in Harare after Emmerson Mnangagwa wins majority in historic vote

Shots have been fired in Harare and riot police deployed as opposition protesters take to the streets amid rising anger at the result of Zimbabwe’s election.

One man has died after he was shot by Zimbabwean soldiers near a bus stop in the capital.

While women have been seen running through the streets, chased by soldiers.

Protestors are accusing the ruling party of trying to rig the result of Zimbabwe’s election.

Zimbabweans protest in downtown Harare
AP

However the full results have not yet been released.

Crowds burnt tyres in the centre of Harare, blocking some streets and engaging in running battles with police who have been firing water cannons to try and disperse the crowds.

Video footage from the capital shows smoke rising from burning vehicles.

A Zimbabwean soldier beats a man in a street in the capital
AFP/Getty Images

One protester pleaded with security forces saying: "Don't direct the politics with guns. Please, we are begging you."

Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the army was deployed on the streets of Harare to "restore peace and tranquillity."

"The presence of the army is not to intimidate people but to insure that law and order is maintained. They are there to assist the police. They are there as a people's army to ensure that peace and security prevails."

European Union observers questioned the conduct of Zimbabwe’s first election, listing issues including media bias, voter intimidation and mistrust in the electoral commission.

ZANU-PF has secured a majority
Getty Images

Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change accused the ZANU-PF of trying to steal the election and lambasted them for delaying the publication of the results.

The EU's assessment is critical in determining whether Zimbabwe can shed its pariah status as it could help attract investors and trigger an economic revival.

Premature celebrations: Supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party
REUTERS

The EU's Chief Observer, Elmar Brok, said he did not yet know if the shortcomings would have a material effect on the outcome of the vote, and he criticised the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for being at times "one-sided".

He said he did not understand why the release of the presidential result was taking so long.

"The longer it lasts that the results of the presidential election is not known, the more lack of credibility it provides," Brok said.

"I would like to ask for as fast as possible the release of the presidential election," he said. "The presidential results were counted first in the polling stations therefore I have still to learn why it will be published last."

The electral commission had said it would start announcing results for the presidential race from 10.30 GMT, but this was delayed as commissioners read out more parliamentary results.

Chamisa was adamant that the results were not transparent, writing on Twitter: “The strategy is meant to prepare Zimbabwe mentally to accept fake presidential results. We've more votes than ED (Emmerson Dambudzo). We won the popular vote (and) will defend it.”

Zimbabwe Elections - In pictures

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In an indication of the growing tension, a crowd of about 100 MDC supporters gathered outside a Harare hotel where election results were being announced but police blocked the entrance to the building, a Reuters witness said.

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

African observer groups said the vote was peaceful, orderly and largely in line with the law but they raised concerns about bias of state media and the commission.

Heated: Police block dozens of opposition party supporters from entering the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission offices
AP

They also called for improvements in the counting procedure, saying the vote represented "a political watershed in Zimbabwe's history."

Zimbabwe was once one of Africa's most promising economies but under Mugabe's rule became tainted by corruption, mismanagement and diplomatic isolation. Its population of 13 million is struggling amid shortages of foreign currency, unemployment above 80 percent and lack of foreign investment.​

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