Senior pastor and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) president Dr Shingi Munyeza has appealed to the elected President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to consolidate the country as the just-ended 2018 harmonised election’s outcome indicated that he won by a mere whisker.
Mr Munyeza, who was among the SADC Eminent Persons Observation Mission (SEPOM) under the aegises of the Elections Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) took to his micro-blogging site, Twitter, on 11:59 pm – 2 Aug 2018 and posted:
“MR PRESIDENT-ELECT
1. 49.2% of the voters do not like you – UNITE US.
2. Our skill is in urban whilst our resources are in rural – BRING EQUITY
3. Make us trust you – show TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY.
4. You are of an older generation – EMPOWER the YOUTHS
God bless
#Zimbabwe”
MR PRESIDENT-ELECT
1. 49.2% of the voters do not like you – UNITE US.
2. Our skill is in urban whilst our resources are in rural – BRING EQUITY
3. Make us trust you – show TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY.
4. You are of an older generation – EMPOWER the YOUTHS
God bless #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/7C07YzOmdT— Shingi Munyeza (@ShingiMunyeza) 3 August 2018
One user asked him if he thinks the elections were free and fair, to which Mr Munyeza responded;
“I was part of the ESN-SA Observer mission. We will issue our final report.”
Munyeza also promised that he will be sharing his personal opinion on the election after ESN-SA’s report is out as he is at liberty to do until the report is out.
Roman Catholic Cleric Father Fidelis Mukonori is also one of the SEPOM team whose report is yet to be issued.
President Mnangagwa was declared duly elected president with effect from Friday, August 3. He garnered 2 460 463 votes, defeating his major rival Nelson Chamisa of MDC-Alliance who amassed 2 147 436 votes.
Mnangagwa won 50,8 percent of the overall votes while Mr Chamisa had 44,3 percent.
The result satisfied the Constitutional need of 50 percent plus one vote for him to ward off a presidential run-off.
Mnangagwa has already guaranteed to serve all Zimbabweans irrespective of political affiliation following his election to the Presidency in the harmonised elections.
Addressing members of the Press conference at the State House in Harare on Friday the president-elect stated that no democratic process was flawless.
“I pledge to be the President of all Zimbabweans. A President of those that voted for me and those who did not. For both must be made to belong and to participate in national processes,” he said in his first Press conference since he was officially declared the winner of the harmonised elections of July 30.
He said his main rival in the presidential election, MDC-Alliance’s Nelson Chamisa also had a crucial role to play in Zimbabwe’s present and future.
“To Nelson Chamisa, I want to say; You have a crucial role to play in Zimbabwe’s present and its unfolding future. Let us both call for peace and unity in our land, call for both, should be louder than ever. That is the role of leaders. That is our joint responsibility even though discharged and fulfilled differently,” he said.
President Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans to be united despite their political differences.
“To all Zimbabweans, let me say that although we were divided at the polls, we are now united in the aftermath of the democratic process, indeed in our dreams and in our aspirations. Though some will inevitably be disappointed with the outcome, I urge everyone to be calm and peaceful and to look forward. To remember that we are all brothers and sisters and that this land is all we have,” the President said.
“Now is the time for us to come together as one, to work as one people. Sharing one dream, one destiny,” President Mnangagwa added.
He also said it was everyone’s wish that Zimbabwe succeeds, which requires unity among all Zimbabweans.
He repeated his pledge to be a listening President and thanked Zimbabweans for showing their faith in his leadership.
“Now that the people have spoken I hear your call. I pledge to be a listening President, a fair President, a responsible and inclusive leader,” he said.
“I thank you the people of Zimbabwe for putting your faith in me to lead you for the next five years. I pray that I prove worthy of your trust,” he said.
“The time for politics is now behind us. Now begins the time for work and progress. A season for greater peace and harmony in our nation,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President also said following the events of November last year, the country had witnessed an unprecedented blossoming of freedom and democracy, which culminated in the historic harmonised elections held on Monday.
He thanked Zimbabweans for the peaceful nature they carried out their campaigns.
With additional reporting from Herald
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