JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday congratulated the newly elected Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on his victory and called for calm in that country.
The South African Presidency released a statement on Friday morning, saying that Ramaphosa "also congratulated the people of Zimbabwe for conducting a peaceful election as declared by the SADC Election Observation Mission and other election observer missions."
Ramaphosa also expressed South Africa's commitment to work with Zimbabwe to enhance the historical, political and fraternal relations that exist between the two countries.
Ramaphosa also called for calm after several people were killed in violent protests on Wednesday by the opposition party Movement for the Democratic Change supporters before the presidential election results were announced.
The Presidency said, "President Ramaphosa has appealed to all political leaders and the people of Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the election and should they have challenges, they must follow legal remedies provided for in the constitution and electoral law."
Ramaphosa said he is looking forward to work with Zimbabwe in strengthening economic cooperation in priority areas as mutually identified by the two countries.
