Emmerson Mnangagwa declared winner in Zimbabwe's presidential election

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner of Zimbabwe's presidential election on Friday, receiving slightly more than 50 percent of the vote.

"Though we may have been divided at the polls, we are united in our dreams," Mnangagwa tweeted. "This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity & love, & together build a new Zimbabwe for all!"

Mnangagwa was appointed acting president in November by the ruling ZANU-PF party, after Robert Mugabe was ousted by the military following 37 years in power. Mnangagwa was once close to Mugabe, but he wants to be seen as a reformer and invited Western election observers, banned under Mugabe, into the country.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

On Wednesday, protesters saying the election was rigged took to the streets, and the military fired on them, killing six people. Mnangagwa's main opposition challenger, Nelson Chamisa, received 44.3 percent of the vote, and a member of his alliance said his party "totally rejects" the results and will likely challenge them in court.