Zimbabwe opposition in court over post-vote violence

Members of Zimbabwe's defeated opposition party appeared in court on violence charges, a day after President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared winner of the historic first elections following the downfall of Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa, a former Mugabe ally, has called for unity after presidential rival Nelson Chamisa rejected the results, insisting he was the real winner of an election marred by a deadly crackdown on opposition supporters.

At least six people died after troops in the capital Harare opened fire on demonstrators on Wednesday, sparking an international outcry and raising grim memories of post-election violence under Mugabe's repressive rule.

Mnangagwa has accused Chamisa's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of fomenting the unrest, but said he would set up an independent commission to investigate the killings.

The 24 opposition members appearing in court yesterday were charged with "public violence" during the protests, accused of smashing windows at offices of the ruling ZANU-PF party and setting fire to vehicles.

They were remanded in custody until a bail hearing tomorrow.

Defence lawyer Denford Halimani said the 16 men and eight women had been caught up in an "opportunistic dragnet" against the opposition.

Mnangagwa has insisted that Monday's landmark election was "free, fair and credible", hailing the vote as a fresh start as he pushes for an end to Zimbabwe's international isolation.

International observers praised the peaceful conduct of the vote, though EU monitors said Mnangagwa benefited from an "un-level playing field" including heavy state media coverage.

Mnangagwa won 50.8 per cent against Chamisa's 44.3 per cent, according to official results -- just enough to avoid a presidential run-off.

Chamisa, a 40-year-old pastor and lawyer, has urged his supporters to refrain from violence as he prepares to challenge the results in court.

"We won but they declared the opposite. You voted but they cheated," he said on Twitter.

In the village of Chinamhora, northeast of Harare, a crowd of 200 mourners gathered to bury 41-year-old fruit seller Ishmail Kumire, one of the victims of Wednesday's crackdown.

Relatives said he supported ZANU-PF but was caught up in the violence and killed because he had stayed at the scene, trying to protect his wares.

"He supported the ruling party -- but then it's the same ruling party that has killed him," said his brother Steven Matope. "He was just selling his tomatoes."