Zimbabwe: Presidential inauguration in Harare August 26 /update 12

Event

The inauguration ceremony for President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to be held on Sunday, August 26, after the Constitutional Court ruled to uphold his electoral win on August 24. The daylong event is set to take place at the National Sports Stadium in Harare beginning at 10:00 (local time) on Sunday. President Mnangagwa called for calm in the wake of the court's decision, with local reports indicating that the streets of Harare were quiet as of Friday evening amid tight security throughout the capital. A continued heavy security presence and associated transportation disruptions are to be expected through the weekend, particularly surrounding Sunday's inauguration ceremony. Protests and clashes cannot be ruled out. 

Context

On August 3, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared incumbent President Mnangagwa winner of the July 30 presidential election. According to the results, Mnangagwa garnered 2.46 million votes, while runner-up Nelson Chamisa secured 2.15 million votes. However, Chamisa alleged that the election should be invalidated due to incidents of theft and fraud. On August 1, authorities deployed the army to disperse opposition protesters in Harare, with security forces firing live ammunition at demonstrators, killing at least six people.

The July 30 elections were the first in Zimbabwe since Robert Mugabe stepped down as president in November 2017 after 37 years in power.

Advice

Individuals in Zimbabwe, and especially in Harare, are advised to avoid all demonstrations and closely monitor the situation. Be prepared to shelter in place in case of further violence, which could flare up with little warning.