By Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has defended Zimbabwe’s recent August 23- 24 disputed election asserting it was free, fair, credible and transparent.
This is despite foreign poll monitors including Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), European Union (EU) and Commonwealth, reports that the election failed to meet regional and international standards.
According to the observers, the election was full of irregularities which included delays in delivery of voting material at most polling stations in Harare and Bulawayo.
Addressing the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Thursday, Mnangagwa said:
“Zimbabwe continues to entrench democracy, constitutionalism, good governance and the rule of law, following the recently held 2023 harmonised general elections.
“I am pleased to highlight that our country enjoyed peace, before, during and after our free, fair, transparent and credible elections,” Mnangagwa said.
Mnangagwa received 52.6% of the vote in the poll to win reelection for second and final term as Zimbabwe’s Prssident while his main challenger Nelson Chamisa got 44%.
His inauguration ceremony held on September 4 was attended by only three out of 16 SADC heads of states.
Meanwhile the European Union, a few days ago announced its intention to withdraw financial support for Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) citing lack of transparency.
