CAPE TOWN, Aug. 3 -- South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Friday voiced confidence in the Zimbabwean elections whose results were challenged by the Zimbabwean opposition.
"The ANC is confident the results of these elections are a reflection of the will of the people of Zimbabwe," ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.
Invited by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), the ANC sent a team to observe the elections, in which ZANU-PF won a majority of seats in the national assembly with Emmerson Mnangagwa emerging as Zimbabwea's new president.
"We want to take this opportunity to congratulate ZANU-PF for having won a majority of seats in the Zimbabwean national assembly. We also congratulate Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa on his election as President of Zimbabwe," Mabe said.
The Zimbabwean opposition has said the elections were "fraudulent, illegal, illegitimate." Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has vowed to challenge the election results.
Six people have been killed in Zimbabwea in violence related to the elections.
The ANC calls on all citizens of Zimbabwe, including opposition parties, to accept this democratic outcome, Mabe said, adding that the loss of life and violent outbreaks in the streets "is regrettable."
"Democracy and the people of Zimbabwe have emerged as undisputed winners," Mabe said.
The ANC urges the newly-elected leadership to pay focused attention on the socio-economic challenges that confront the people of Zimbabwe, said Mabe.