Zimbabwe Election: Riot police storm opposition leader's news conference venue

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02:55

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he won Monday's election fairly and he has nothing to hide. But his main opponent, Nelson Chamisa, is alleging fraud. Nelson wants to take legal action, calling the result a "coup" against the people's will. CGTN's Farai Mwakutuya reports.

Before Nelson Chamisa could address the gathered press, baton-wielding riot police stormed the venue and ordered everyone to leave.

It took the intervention of the information minister to get the briefing back on. Once underway Nelson Chamisa insisted that he, not Emmerson Mnangagwa, is the winner of Monday's election.

NELSON CHAMISA PRESIDENT, MDC ALLIANCE "Our collated results indicate that we won significantly, we actually have a majority vote of over 2,3 million ahead of Mnangagwa. It's actually Mnangagwa who did not reach the 2 million mark, as we will then show. Our percentage was actually 56 percent."

Official results announced Thursday give Emmerson Mnangagwa over two point four million votes and a 50.8 percent majority. But Chamisa says the numbers were manipulated and that he has evidence to prove it.

NELSON CHAMISA PRESIDENT, MDC ALLIANCE "We will pursue all means necessary legal and constitutional to make sure we protect the people's vote. The people have voted, they have cheated, the people have won and they are subverting that we win. We will not accept that."

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it has not subverted the people's wishes. Several International observer missions have hailed significantly improved electoral environment.

FARAI MWAKUTUYA HARARE, ZIMBABWE "President-elect Mnangagwa said the scenes at the press conference have no place in Zimbabwean society and that freedom of speech, assembly and the right to criticise government have been protected by his administration."

He's encouraged his rival to call for peace after the vote.

EMMERSON MNANGAGWA ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT "To Nelson Chamisa I want to say you have a crucial role in Zimbabwe's present and its unfolding future, let us both call for peace and unity in our land, call for both louder than ever, that is the role of leaders."

Mnangagwa has said once inaugurated he is setting up a commission of enquiry into the deadly violence which claimed 6 lives on Wednesday FM, CGTN, H, Z.