He officially won with 52.6 percent of the votes, defeating his contender Chamisa, who acquired 44 percent of the votes.
However, international observers flagged multiple issues with the election process, including allegations of intimidation against Chamisa’s supporters. Chamisa and human rights groups have accused the ruling ZANU-PF party of using the police and judiciary to oppress opposition figures and their followers.
The election also encountered logistical issues, such as a lack of ballot papers that led to voting being extended in opposition dominated urban areas. Despite all the reported issues with the election, the ZANU-PF party has maintained the governmental control it has held since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. The results of the election were unexpectedly announced just 48 hours after polls closed, prompting further criticism from the opposition.
