Zimbabwe elections: Three dead as opposition protest ruling Zanu-PF parliamentary victory

Clashes broke out among angry supporters of Zimbawe opposition leader Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday after official election results showed a ruling party victory in parliament.

Three people were killed after the army opened fire in central Harare during demonstrations over alleged fraud in the country's elections.

The man died after being shot in the stomach, an AFP photographer said, confirming that he died at the scene.

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party won the majority of seats in parliament after sweeping rural constituencies by huge margins, official results showed on Wednesday, setting the stage for President Emmerson Mnangagwa's victory.

Protesters tore down a billboard with an image of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his campaign slogan: "The voice of the people is the voice of God."

Opposition supporters also marched to and from the gates of a compound where the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has been announcing results. Police padlocked the main gate.

The opposition alleges the vote was rigged. Results of the presidential race have not yet been announced and the electoral commission says it will update on that "sometime tomorrow."

Presidential results are due to be announced, with Mr Chamisa's supporters insisting they will occupy the streets of Harare if their candidate does not win.

Mr Chamisa has already claimed victory and accused the electoral commission of fixing results to favour Mr Mnangagwa. Riot police equipped with water cannon looked on as several hundred MDC supporters gathered outside Mr Chamisa's MDC party headquarters in central Harare and electoral commission where results were being announced.

Tererai Obey Sithole, a 26 year old MDC member, told The Telegraph: “We are not going to accept any result that is against the victory of Nelson Chamisa.”

“We already have the results. Mr Chamisa won with 60 per cent plus. We are going to stay on the streets until ZEC announces the correct result.”

"They have stolen the election," says 78-year-old Iddah Hanyani. "I want my vote back."

The European Union observer mission said on Wednesday "a truly level playing field was not achieved" in the election.

The EU mission pointed out the "misuse of state resources, instances of coercion and intimidation, partisan behavior by traditional leaders and overt bias in state media" but says Monday's election was largely peaceful in a break from the past.

The assessments of Western and other observers, many who returned to Zimbabwe after being barred for nearly two decades, are crucial in the possible lifting of international sanctions on this southern African nation.

The EU mission says this is a preliminary statement and more is expected on how the election results are handled and announced. 

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Parliamentary results early on Wednesday showed Mr Mnangagwa's Zanu PF party cruising to a big majority after picking up 109 seats against 41 for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Another 58 seats are yet to be declared.

The House of Assembly of Parliament has 210 seats and Zanu PF would need to win 30 more to have a two-thirds majority that would allow it to change the constitution at will.

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The trend in the parliamentary election was expected to continue when results for the president are announced. The MDC won in most urban centres, where it enjoys majority support.

The MDC accused the election commission on Tuesday of deliberately delaying results of this week's vote to favour the ruling party, reporting irregularities in the first poll since the removal of Robert Mugabe in a bloodless November coup.

Election observers from southern African nations on Wednesday commended Zimbabwe for a peaceful, orderly election, though they also identified some shortcomings in how it was conducted.

The Southern African Development Community said Zimbabweans had the "opportunity to exercise their constitutional right," and applauded the government for allowing more international observers for Monday's vote.

Urging protesters to refrain from violence, the group aslo referred to criticism of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for the late release of the voters' roll, as well as bias toward the ruling party by state media and traditional leaders.