ZANU-PF acknowledges Zimbabwe election not entirely democratic?

ZANU-PF's UK representative, Nick Mangwana appeared to acknowledge that the election was not entirely democratic during an appearance on BBC Newsnight: 'Democracy is a journey, and we cannot declare that we have reached the destination yet like any other country, but we are building onto it.'

BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis said: 'You are hoping to move forward now and unite the country, I don't know how that happens.'

Mr Mangwana responded: 'It is going to be a struggle because the will to move on doesn't seem to be universal.'

He claimed opposition parties, including the MDC Alliance, did not want to move on and were trying to 'get to power' at any cost.

Commenting on the violence, he said: 'Instead of a vote that is based on positivity, a vote that is based on the true will of the people, what they do is crank up emotions and then they say let's pump ZANU-PF, let's pump the state to see if it reacts.

'Unfortunately, that narrative does not build the Zimbabwean people, because we are being driven into a crisis mode in this country.'

The representative accused the opposition parties of failing to deliver on the needs and wants of the Zimbabwean electorate, and thinking solely of power.

He said: 'All we want is jobs, we want investments so our people can be employed, we want investments so we can improve the lives of our people.

'But the opposition is not interested in that, what they are interested in is power, power at any cost, regardless of all of us.'

The MDC Alliance have accused the ruling ZANU-PF party of attempting to rig the vote and interfere with the will of the people.

On Thursday, Zimbabwean soldiers patrolled the streets of Harare as calm returned a day after clashes between security forces and opposition protesters killed three people.

Demonstrators filled the streets on Wednesday, accusing the ruling party of attempting to rig the presidential election.

Troops, reinforced by armoured vehicles and a military helicopter, cleared the roads of protesters.

One minibus taxi driver, Gift, said: "Yesterday was a very sad day for Zimbabwe.

'We hope things remain quiet and we can all just forget about this election. We don't know if it was fair. The government will do what they want.'