Prayers for Zimbabwe as election violence continues

Three people have been killed in protests since the results showed the ruling Zanu-PF party picked up the most votes.

Opposition supporters claim the election was rigged and have clashed with police.

Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata, general secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches told Premier’s News Hour how we can stand with his country.

“We need to continue to pray for peace and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches needs to make sure that where we are preparing spaces for dialogue at secure spaces – we need to make sure that we can respond quickly to people who may have been hurt.”

Zimbabwe’s ruling party has told the opposition that “we should all lose graciously” as presidential election results are set to be announced.

Zanu-PF spokesman Paul Mangwana said opposition supporters were responsible for Wednesday’s deadly violence in the capital Harare in which the military swept in with gunfire to disperse protests over alleged rigging in Monday’s vote.

He said that “it is not entirely true protesters were not armed”.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his government was in touch with main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in an attempt to ease tensions, hours after he accused the opposition of inciting it.

But Mr Chamisa said he had not received any communication from the president and criticised the “violent government”.

He called…