“The scenes today at the Bronte Hotel [in Harare] have no place in our society and we are urgently investigating the matter to understand exactly what happened,” Mnangagwa wrote on Twitter.

“Over the past nine months we have protected freedom of speech, of assembly and the right to criticise the government,” he added, calling this “an indispensable part of the new Zimbabwe.”

“As many opposition supporters cry foul, Mnangagwa said: “We won the election freely and fairly, and have nothing to hide or fear.

“Anyone is free to address the media at any time.”

Chamisa has questioned the outcome of Monday’s presidential election, in which he lost out to President Emmerson Mnangagwa from the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Chamisa on Friday slammed the “fake results” of the country’s historic election that returned incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s “scandal of releasing unverified fake results is regrettable,” the 40-year-old leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Twitter.

“ZEC denied our election agent access to results be4 announcement.ZEC must release proper & verified results
endorsed by parties,” Chamisa tweeted.

Results released overnight Thursday gave Mnangagwa 50.8 per cent of the vote and Chamisa 44.3 per cent.

While Mnangagwa welcomed the results and called for peace, Chamisa rejected the outcome outright.

“The level of opaqueness, truth deficiency, moral decay & values deficit is baffling,” the MDC leader said.

During the televised presentation of the results, Chamisa’s spokesman attempted to give a speech but was heckled and booed offstage by locals who said they wanted to hear from the commission.

Harare – which voted heavily for Chamisa – was quiet Friday with no signs of celebration.

There had been an uneasy calm in the city since a brutal crackdown on protesters by security forces on Monday, in which six people were killed.

The poll was the first in almost four decades without longtime leader Robert Mugabe on the ballot.

Mugabe, 94, had grown increasingly unpopular for his repressive rule and the country’s economic malaise.

He was ousted in a military coup in November and replaced by erstwhile ally Mnangagwa.

“This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity & love, & together build a new Zimbabwe for all!” Mnangagwa tweeted after winning.

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Zuma confirmed that Mugabe told him during a telephone call that he was fine.

Also, in a statement, Mr Zuma’s office said: “President Zuma spoke to President Robert Mugabe earlier today who indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine.”

Troops are patrolling the capital, Harare, after they seized state TV and said they were targeting “criminals”.

The move may be a bid to replace Mr Mugabe with his sacked deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mr Mnangagwa’s dismissal last week left Mr Mugabe’s wife Grace as the president’s likely successor.

Heavy gun and artillery fire could be heard in northern parts of Harare early on Wednesday.

Mr Mugabe, 93, has dominated the impoverished country’s political scene since it gained independence from the UK in 1980.

The UK Foreign Office advised Britons “currently in Harare to remain safely at home or in their accommodation until the situation becomes clearer”, while the US embassy in Harare advised US citizens in Zimbabwe to “shelter in place” until further notice.

Meanwhile, the US State Department has that its Embassy in Harare will be minimally staffed and closed to the public on November 15.  Embassy personnel will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Due to ongoing uncertainty in Zimbabwe, the U.S. Embassy in Harare will be minimally staffed and closed to the public on November 15.  Embassy personnel will continue to monitor the situation closely. @StateDept @usembassyharare @usembassyharare

China, Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, says it is closely watching the situation and hopes that the relevant parties can properly handle their internal affairs.

A Zimbabwean army officer, Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo, went on TV after the takeover to say Mr Mugabe and his family were “safe and sound and their security is guaranteed”.

“We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes… that are causing social and economic suffering in the country,” Maj Gen Moyo said, reading out a statement.

“As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy.”

Major-General Moyo also said advised the citizens to remain calm and limit unnecessary movement, assuring that the Zimbabwean judiciary independence is guaranteed.

He also stated that the security services should co-operate for the good of the country and any provocation would be met with an appropriate response.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, it is not clear who is leading the military action.

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