Uneasy silence in Harare streets after Zimbabwe’s military moves in, guns firing
Zimbabweans are eagerly awaiting the results of the presidential election after the ruling Zanu-PF party won the majority of seats in parliament. Follow the live update here:
Watch this video of the moment when MDC supporters started protesting in capital Harare.
An uneasy silence is settling over Zimbabwe’s capital after people fled military and other security forces firing live ammunition to break up opposition protests over Monday’s election results.
At least one person was killed.
Soldiers are stationed at intersections in Harare as the sun begins to set.
Hundreds of angry opposition supporters had gathered outside the compound of the electoral commission before scattering as the military moved in.
The violence came shortly after Western election observers urged the release of the presidential results as soon as possible and warned that a delay could lead to “volatility”.
—————————–
Reports on social media say there will be a government on @ZBCNewsonline on the unrest in Harare
—————————–
Here is a video of the MDC supporters before they were dispersed by the military and riot police in Harare.
#Zimbabwedecides2018 opposition supporters in Harare before they were dispersed by the army and riot police
Video credit @cyrusnhara_4787 pic.twitter.com/iqhPPrOIcu— harumutasa/aljazeera (@harumutasa) August 1, 2018
—————————
SABC is quoting the Zimbabwe Electoral commission as saying that the results of the heavily disputed presidential election will be released on Thursday.
The Zimbawean electoral commission says it hopes to announce the results of the Presidential election tomorrow. This comes amidst the eruption of violence in the streets of Harare after the results of the National Assembly polls were announced earlier this afternoon.
— SAfm news (@SAfmnews) August 1, 2018
————————–
See this picture gallery of Zimbabwe soldiers and police clashing with MDC protesters P over alleged fraud in the country’s election.

Zimbabwean anti riot police officers stand guard at the entrance of the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) headquarters in Harare on
August 1, 2018, as supporters of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) protest against alleged widespread fraud by the election authority
and ruling party, after the announcement of the election’s results.
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official results
showed on August 1, 2018, but EU observers criticised the Zimbabwe elections
for being held on an “un-level playing field”. / AFP PHOTO / Luis TATO

Zimbabwean anti riot police officers sit in a truck, look at a supporter of the
opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who takes part in a protest
against alleged widespread fraud by the election authority and ruling party, after
the announcement of the election’s results, outside the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC) headquarters in Harare on August 1, 2018, as supporters
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official
results showed on August 1, 2018, but EU observers criticised the
Zimbabwe elections for being held on an “un-level playing field”. / AFP PHOTO / Luis TATO

A supporter of Zimbabwean opposition MDC Alliance party sits in front of the
bonnet of an anti-riot police truck as other supporters react outside the
MDC Alliance’s headquarters in Harare on August 1, 2018, after the announcement
of the election’s official results.
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official
results showed on August 1, as the count continued in the presidential race and
the opposition MDC cried foul, alleging widespread fraud.
/ AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI

Supporters of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), protest
against alleged widespread fraud by the election authority and ruling party, after
the announcement of election’s results, in the streets of Harare, on August 1, 2018.
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official results showed
on August 1, 2018, but EU observers criticised the Zimbabwe elections for being held
on an “un-level playing field”. / AFP PHOTO / Luis TATO

Zimbabwean anti riot police officers close the entrance to the Rainbow Towers
where the election’s results were announced, as supporters of the opposition party
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), protest against alleged widespread fraud by
the election authority and ruling party, in Harare, on August 1, 2018.
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official results
showed on August 1, 2018, but EU observers criticised the Zimbabwe elections for
being held on an “un-level playing field”. / AFP PHOTO / Luis TATO

Supporters of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),
tear up ballot booths durinas they demand results of general election in
Harare, Zimbabwe. (File:AFP)

A Zimbabwean soldier beats a man in a street of Harare as protests erupted
over alleged fraud in the country’s election. One man was shot dead,
AFP witnessed, after the Zimbabwean army opened fire in central Harare on Wednesday
as protests erupted over alleged fraud in the country’s election. (File:AFP)
———————————————
Nelson Chamisa has tweeted, thanking his supporters for voting for him. He maintains that he has won the election.
THANK YOU ZIMBABWE …I’m humbled by the support you have given to me as a Presidential Candidate. We have won the popular vote. You voted for total Change in this past election!We have won this one together. No amount of results manipulation will alter your WILL #Godisinit
— Nelson Chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) August 1, 2018
———————————————
WATCH this video of cars burning in Harare.
No one is above the law. Those that incited this malicious destruction of property have to face their day in court pic.twitter.com/07z8bSbJbe
— Nick mangwana (@nickmangwana) August 1, 2018
———————————————
“Those same tankers ‘we’ celebrated last year in November are being used against us,” says one shocked Zimbabwean after armed troops moved into the capital to disperse opposition protests over disputed election results.
———————————————
Zimbabwean soldiers are occupying intersections in Harare and a military helicopter flies overhead.
People scatter as armored vehicles speed by with sirens wailing.
“They are killing us,” a man shouts.Some protesters threw bricks into a main road with a military truck parked nearby, then ran when police trucks with water cannon raced toward them.
This is the first time Zimbabwe’s military has been on the streets of Harare since the removal of longtime leader Robert Mugabe in November. At the time the military was met with cheers and selfies. – AP
———————————————
SA’s Zizi Kodwa has just tweeted that “Nelson Chamisa must be held accountable for reckless inflammatory and reckless statements” which have “now led to eruption of violent protests in Harare.”
Nelson Chamisa of MDC must be held accountable for inflammatory and reckless statements which has now led to eruption of violent protests in Harare. What started as peaceful elections in Zimbabwe history. He irresponsible declared himself a "winner". #ZimDecides2018
— Zizi Kodwa (@zizikodwa) August 1, 2018
——————————————–
A man lies on the ground after the Zimbabwean army opened fire in central Harare as protests erupted over alleged fraud in the country’s election.
The man died after being shot in the stomach, an AFP photographer said, confirming that he died at the scene. (AFP)
——————————————
“Don’t direct the politics with guns. Please, we are begging you,” Zimbabweans are pleading as armed security forces are on the streets of the capital and sporadic gunshots are heard.
Live video by The Associated Press from Harare shows smoke rising from burning vehicles and opposition supporters scattering after they protested alleged manipulation in Monday’s election.
Election observers from the European Union and United States urge that results of the presidential vote be released as soon as possible to avoid “volatility”. – AP
—————————————-
An army chopper now hovering above Harare city centre #InZimHarare @eNCA#ZimElections2018 pic.twitter.com/jJSsRkWcc1
— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) August 1, 2018
—————————————
A British Financial Times newspaper journalist has tweeted that ‘masked soldiers are beating up people’ in Harare.
I’ve seen soldiers including presidential guard unit moving into position outside the election result centre, situation deteriorating in Harare fast
— Joseph Cotterill (@jsphctrl) August 1, 2018
—————————————
One man was shot dead, AFP witnessed, after the Zimbabwean army opened fire in central Harare on Wednesday as protests erupted over alleged fraud in the country’s election.
The man died after being shot in the stomach, an AFP photographer said, confirming that he died at the scene. – AFP
—————————————-
Armed troops on the streets of Zimbabwe’s capital try to disperse opposition protesters. – AP
—————————————
Stanley Kwenda of BBC says sharp and loud gun sounds can be heard in the capital Harare
—————————————
263Chat is tweeting that a Zanu-PF bus has been set ablaze by MDC supporter at a bus terminus in Harare as tempers remain high
#HarareShutsDown: A Zanu PF bus is set ablaze by Opposition protestors at 4th Street bus terminus as tempers continue to rise in Harare CBD. @cnni @BBCAfrica @harumutasa @ShingieMuringi1 @SirNige pic.twitter.com/pgnGRjlPZK
— 263Chat 🇿🇼 (@263Chat) August 1, 2018
—————————————
From AFP:
Zimbabwe police on Wednesday fired water cannon and teargas at opposition supporters outside the electoral results headquarters in Harare, an AFP correspondent witnessed, as tensions erupted over alleged fraud in the election.
Officers had been facing off through a locked gate against protesters who brandished opposition party banners, lit fires and chanted slogans against the ruling Zanu-PF party.
————————————–
BBC’s Pierce Scholfield says tension is building up outside the results centre
That tension building outside – hundreds are now on the streets. Riot police stationed at the edge of the complex where ZEC are stationed. pic.twitter.com/SGINukoYz5
— Piers Scholfield (@inglesi) August 1, 2018
————————————–
Helen Zille has tweeted about the Zimbabwe election
If ZANU-PF can still win an election in Zimbabwe after ruining the country and turning millions into refugees, we need to ask a few questions about the efficacy of elections in holding power-abusing parties and leaders to account. Incomprehensible result. It needs interrogation. https://t.co/12C00pf8fx
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) August 1, 2018