Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa elected to second term as president

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Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa narrowly won the country's landmark election, an outcome set to fuel fraud allegations as security forces patrol the streets to prevent protests.

Mnangagwa won 50.8 percent of the vote, ahead of Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party on 44.3 percent, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said.

"Mnangagwa, Emmerson Dambudzo, of ZANU-PF party, is therefore duly declared elected president of the Republic of Zimbabwe," said ZEC chair Priscilla Chigumba.

Mnangagwa needed over 50 percent of the vote to secure victory without a second-round run-off.

People in Mbare celebrate after Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) officials announced the re-election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) on August 3, 2018, in Harare, Zimbabwe. /VCG Photo‍

Mnangagwa calls for unity

Mnangagwa, who was chosen as Mugabe's successor in the ruling ZANU-PF party after he was removed in a brief military intervention in November, hailed his victory as a "new beginning" for Zimbabwe.

"This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity and love, and together build a new Zimbabwe for all," he tweeted.

Opposition rejects 'fake' Mnangagwa victory

Chamisa dismissed what he called the election's "unverified fake results."

"ZEC must release proper & verified results endorsed by parties," he wrote on Twitter, referring to the Zimbabwe Election Commission.

"The level of opaqueness, truth deficiency, moral decay & values deficit is baffling."

Members of the military are seen patrolling the streets of the capital Harare, Zimbabwe on August 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

Opposition allegations of foul play had already sparked a deadly crackdown on protesters in the capital Harare on Wednesday when troops opened fire, killing six.

Soldiers and police had cleared the city center Thursday as the government vowed not to tolerate any more protests.

Fresh start?

Analysts EXX Africa said they expected the situation to calm over the next few weeks, with big protests unlikely "due to the heavy-handed security crackdown in the capital and other cities."

"Despite the mixed response on the elections process from international observers, there is little actual evidence to demonstrate the opposition's claims of mass vote tampering," they said in a briefing note.

"Over the next few weeks, the fall-out over the elections will subside and allow the government to begin to repair its tarnished reputation in order to secure fresh investments and debt relief," they predicted.

(With input from agencies)