Post date: Aug 04, 2013 10:5:8 AM
Zimbabweans react with mixed feelings after Robert Mugabe is declared winner of presidential elections.
HARARE, ZIMBABWE (AUGUST 4, 2103) (REUTERS) - The re-election Robert Mugabe as president of Zimbabwe evoked mixed reactions among locals in the capital Harare on Sunday (August 2).
Mugabe, 89, who has ruled the former British colony in southern Africa since its independence in 1980, was formally proclaimed re-elected for a five-year term on Saturday (August 3) barely an hour after Tsvangirai announced his planned legal challenge.Zimbabwe's Election Commission said Mugabe had beaten Tsvangirai with just over 61 percent of the votes, against nearly 34 percent for Tsvangirai.
"The election results I think, in my opinion, I think they are fair, it was very peaceful, I like the peace which was all over the country," said one local resident, Stylus Chakurira.
Newspapers being sold on the street corners of the capital had bold front-pages that illustrated the level of concern many have over the fairness of the July 31 poll.
"The results are very shocking, unexpected results," said Manava Bandason.
"What happened is fair, I think it is respectable," said James Muchwengayo.
African observers have already broadly approved Wednesday's peaceful vote, independent domestic monitors have described it as deeply flawed by registration problems that may have disenfranchised up to a million people.
The United States, which have imposed sanctions on Mugabe over previous flawed elections and alleged abuses of power, said the evidence of irregularities in the July 31 vote indicated the result was "the culmination of a deeply flawed process".
The European Union said it was worried about the allegations of serious flaws in the election.
Western election observers were kept out by Harare.
It was reported that in Harare's Mbare township, dozens of ZANU-PF supporters ran through the streets shouting party slogans and singing after the official results were announced.
But the reaction was largely subdued in most of the capital which had been an MDC fiefdom since 2000.