Harare, 27 August 2023 (dpa/MIA) — Incumbent Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa won a second term in elections which observers described as insufficiently free and fair, as the country's main opposition party refuted the election results.

The 80-year-old incumbent secured just under 53% of the votes cast in presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday, while the most promising opposition candidate, Nelson Chamisa, came in with 44% of the vote, the electoral commission said late Saturday night.

This secures a second five-year term as president for Mnangagwa, who initially came to power in 2017 following a military coup.

Chamisa's party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), refuted the results of the election.

"We will not rollover and accept fictitious lies," the party said in a statement, released soon after the results were announced late Saturday evening.

The party said the elections had been marred by "voter suppression and egregious abuse."

The CCC said it plans to initiate a citizen's review of the results.

According to preliminary results, the ruling Zanu-PF party also secured a solid majority in parliament.

Several human rights organizations have pointed to voter intimidation, falsification of electoral rolls and the appointment of Zanu-PF supporters to the electoral commission.