Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa has admitted that the country has been divided at the just concluded polls but has to remain united in building a new country for all its citizens.

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Mnangagwa garnered 2,460,463 representing 50.8% in Monday’s presidential election while main opposition candidate, Nelson Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) got 2,147,437 which represented 44.3% of the total votes cast.

In his first reaction soon after the country’s electoral body declared him winner of the July 30 presidential race, the septuagenarian said he was humbled to have emerged tops of the race.

“Though we may have been divided at the polls, we are united in our dreams. This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity & love, & together build a new Zimbabwe for all!

“Thank you Zimbabwe! I am humbled to be elected President of the Second Republic of Zimbabwe. Though we may have been divided at the polls, we are united in our dreams. This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity & love, & together build a new Zimbabwe for all!” Mnangagwa tweeted.

The final results indicated that Mnangagwa, who was the flag bearer of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) had narrowly avoided a run-off with Chamisa and the MDC Alliance which have rejected the final tallies.

The 40-year-old Chamisa and his party have repeatedly rejected the results they described as untrue and fake. Although Chamisa had flatly refused to go to court, his party has vowed to take up the legal challenge.

Chamisa had on Thursday questioned the independence of the country’s judiciary, saying it was the main reason he was reluctant to go to court to challenge the results of the presidential election which he claims to have won.

“When you go into the court you are going into the lion’s den. We are not about to be a meal for lions. So we are very circumspect,” Chamisa told reporters.