Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court has upheld the results of the country's presidential election.
The opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had challenged the official results of last month's vote, after officials results showed incumbent leader Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zanu-PF with 50.8% of the vote.
With more than 50% of the vote, Mr Mnangagwa narrowly avoided a potential run-off vote.
MDC had publicly disputed the results of the country's first election since the ousting of Robert Mugabe, describing the official results as 'fake'.
However, the court has now backed the results from Zimbabwe's electoral commission.
In a ruling quoted by the state-run Herald Newspaper, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said: “The application is dismissed with costs.
"Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is duly declared the winner of the presidential elections held on the 30th of July 2018.”
BBC reports that the judge described allegations of election tampering "bold and unsubstantiated".
In a statement, the MDC party - led by presidential hopeful Nelson Chamisa - called for peace in the wake of the court's decision.
The party said: "Our unstinting belief in the rule of law means we shall not only respect the verdict of the Bench but we shall also doggedly pursue all constitutionally permissible avenues to ensure that the sovereign will of the people is protected and guaranteed."
We call for peace in our land & above all we call for the veneration & protection of the people’s sovereign expression which was unequivocal in the just-ended harmonized election. The sombre mood in the country in the wake of today’s court verdict is in itself a telling statement
— MDC Zimbabwe (@mdczimbabwe) August 24, 2018
Mr Mnangagwa, meanwhile, said he and his party were not surprised by the court's decision, and called for unity in the wake of the judgement.
I once again reiterate my call for peace and unity above all. Nelson Chamisa, my door is open and my arms are outstretched, we are one nation, and we must put our nation first. Let us all now put our differences behind us. It is time to move forward together. (4/4)
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) August 24, 2018
The recent election was the country's first since the ousting of Robert Mugabe.
EU election monitors said the vote in Zimbabwe was 'competitive', but warned there was an un-level playing field in favour of the ruling party during the pre-election campaign.
Post-election violence in the Zimbabwean capital Harare saw opposition protesters clash with security forces, leaving at least six people dead.
The legal challenge to the results led to the postponement of the planned presidential inauguration, which was due to take place earlier this month.
