Zimbabwe's President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has secured a second term through an election with a 52.6% majority, according to the electoral commission's announcement. However, allegations of extensive vote manipulation have been raised by the opposition, and international observers have noted that the election did not meet democratic standards.

Mr. Mnangagwa is just the second president of Zimbabwe, taking over following a 2017 coup that removed longtime leader Robert Mugabe. Despite his initial promises of positive change upon assuming office, Zimbabweans continue to grapple with high inflation, poverty, and a pervasive sense of fear.

At his inauguration, Mr. Mnangagwa, nicknamed "The Crocodile" for his tough approach, pledged a fresh start for the country's citizens. Nonetheless, Zimbabwe has witnessed one of the world's highest inflation rates in recent months, with prices skyrocketing by 101.3% compared to the previous year.

Unemployment remains a significant concern, as only a quarter of Zimbabweans hold formal employment. Despite his commitment to upholding human rights, the reality on the ground suggests little progress has been made in this area since the departure of Mr. Mugabe.

Critics point out that in the lead-up to the election, the 80-year-old president stifled dissent and suppressed opposition voices, a move that was widely anticipated given his expected victory.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said Mr Mnangagwa's main challenger, Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Nelson Chamisa, secured 44% of the vote.

Mr Mnangagwa received more than 2.3m votes, while Mr Chamisa took 1.9m, according to the ZEC. Voter turnout in the country of almost 16m was 69%, the electoral body said.

The opposition claims the vote was rigged, but the constitutional court has upheld the result.

A spokesperson for the CCC posted on X - formerly known as Twitter - that the party rejected "any result hastily assembled without proper verification".

Promise Mkwananzi, a spokesperson for the party, told the AFP news agency that the CCC did not sign the "false" final tally and "cannot accept the results".

He said the party would announce its next move soon.

Observer missions from the EU, Commonwealth and 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) said they had a number of concerns with the vote, including the banning of opposition rallies, issues with the electoral register, biased state media coverage and voter intimidation.

"The elections were fraught with irregularities and aggrieved the people of Zimbabwe," political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya told AFP.

The run-up to the election was largely free of violence, but CCC members were convicted on what they describe as fabricated charges aimed at weakening the party. The party says the police have banned several of its meetings since July, and nearly 100 gatherings since it was formed in January last year.

Earlier this month, 40 CCC members, including a parliamentary candidate, were arrested while campaigning in the capital Harare.

The recent killing of a CCC backer, allegedly by supporters of Mr Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF party, further raised concerns about rights.

Critics continue to be arrested and taken to court for insulting the president - an offence punishable by one year in jail or a fine or both. A man in Harare was charged in April after allegedly being overheard by a police officer saying that Mr Mnangagwa would lose the next election.

Voting in the presidential and parliamentary elections was meant to take place on Wednesday, but was extended into Thursday in some areas due to the late distribution of ballot papers.

Mr Mnangagwa's election means Zanu-PF has ruled Zimbabwe for 43 years, since the country gained independence from British rule in 1980.

The party was also declared the winner in the parliamentary race, securing 136 of 210 seats, with the CCC taking 73. A further 60 seats are reserved for women and are appointed through proportional representation.

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