Police in Zimbabwe on Friday chased away journalists who had gathered for a news conference to be addressed by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.
Riot police stormed the Bronte Hotel in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare asking journalists to get out.
The disruption to the press conference has been condemned by the country’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
He wrote on twitter that “The scenes today at the Bronte Hotel have no place in our society and we are urgently investigating the matter to understand exactly what happened.
Over the past nine months we have protected freedom of speech, of assembly and the right to criticise the government.”
Mnangagwa was declared winner of Monday’s historic. President Mnangagwa secured 50.8 percent of the votes while MDC’s Chamisa obtained 44.3 percent of total votes.
The opposition has rejected the results declared by the Zimbabwe Election Commission on Thursday night.
The scenes today at the Bronte Hotel have no place in our society and we are urgently investigating the matter to understand exactly what happened. Over the past nine months we have protected freedom of speech, of assembly and the right to criticise the government. (1/2)
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) August 3, 2018
Speaking to journalists at the Bronte Hotel, the MDC Alliance party leader alleged that the election was “rigged”.
“Mr Mnangagwa did not win the election in this country … we won this election emphatically. We won this election and we are ready to form the next government,” Chamisa said.
He also referred to the riot police disrupting the event as “behaviour of people who had lost.”
Riot police trying to force journalists to leave Bronte Hotel where Nelson Chamisa wants to give a press conference pic.twitter.com/XJ1m8KuQAX
— harumutasa/aljazeera (@harumutasa) August 3, 2018
Mnangagwa, 75 became President last year after his former boss, Robert Mugabe resigned.
Mugabe was forced out of power after a military takeover which many believe was masterminded by Mnangagwa.
The former deputy of Mugabe after becoming president promised reforms including ensuring a free and fair election.
Several election observers were allowed into the country for the election.
Despite a peaceful electoral process on Monday, violence erupted on Wednesday after soldiers clashed with opposition supporters.
The MDC supporters were disputing the election results but the soldiers shot into them killing six people.
Source: Africafeeds.com
