HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe’s democracy has matured as evidenced by the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed in the harmonised elections last month.
Addressing the crowds during the Zimbabwe Defence Day Celebrations in Harare, Mnangagwa said his administration was supporting peace in the country.
“The new dispensation has opened up the country’s democratic and economic space and demonstrated that Zimbabwe’s democracy has matured. This, however, should never be abused. Let us bury our political differences and focus on rebuilding a prosperous Zimbabwe as one family,” he said.
“We continue to call for restraint,peace and more peace throughout the country.”
Mnangwagwa said the just-ended harmonised elections were held in a peaceful environment that enabled citizens to exercise their democratic rights without fear or intimidation.
“This made us proud as a nation,” he said.
He denounced the MDC Alliance for the violence that happened during the post election resulting in the death of six people.
“I am however deeply concerned with the incidents of violence that rocked the streets of Harare at the instigation of some members of the MDC Alliance leadership, which subsequently resulted in the regrettable loss of lives, injury to persons and damage to property,” he said.
Mnangagwa won the presidential elections with 50,8 percent ahead of MDC Alliance’s Nelson Chamisa who polled 44,3 percent.
Chamisa has lodged a Constitutional Court application challenging the results.
