Johannesburg – The UN has urged the Zimbabwean government to reject violence following the outbreak of clashes between security forces and protesters angered at election results which left three people dead.
"We are concerned about reports that there have been incidents of violence in some parts of Zimbabwe," UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters in New York at a regular briefing on Wednesday.
Haq reminded current office holders and political parties of the commitments they made through the Peace Pledge, signed on June 26, and the agreed Code of Conduct for a peaceful electoral process.
In June, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned an explosion that took place at an election rally in Zimbabwe, shortly after sitting President Emmerson Mnangagwa – who is running again for a full term - left the stage.
And in July, amid increasing reports of voter intimidation and coercion linked to the ruling Zanu-PF party, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, underscored the need for a peaceful and credible election.
Official results so far, show that while Zanu-PF has won the most seats in the parliamentary ballot, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change is alleging ballot-rigging and impatience has been growing at the delayed release of full results.
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