Zimbabweans, with inflation weighing heavily on their minds, are preparing to exercise their democratic right as they head to the polls for the presidential and parliamentary elections. Taking into account the significance of this event, the day has been declared a public holiday to ensure that all of the 6.62 million registered voters have a fair chance to cast their votes.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing stiff competition from 10 challengers, including Nelson Chamisa of the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). To secure victory, a presidential candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. In the event that no candidate reaches this threshold, a presidential run-off will take place in six weeks on October 2nd.
This election holds tremendous significance as it marks the first one since the death of Robert Mugabe, the man who dominated Zimbabwean politics for decades. Mugabe’s rule came to an end in 2017 when he was ousted in a military takeover and replaced by his deputy, Mr. Mnangagwa.
The Zimbabwean Electoral Commission (Zec) has been diligently preparing for voting day, setting up polling stations and enforcing electoral laws by removing political posters that violate proximity rules. To maintain peace and order during the elections, police officers have been deployed throughout the country, with additional support from prison officers.
While the pre-election period has been relatively peaceful, opposition parties have voiced concerns over the banning and disruption of their rallies by the police. Tragically, a supporter of the CCC lost their life in an incident of violence earlier this month. The police have since made 15 arrests in connection with the case.
In an effort to ensure transparency, the Zec has cautioned voters against wearing nail varnish or nail extensions on their left pinkie finger, as this finger will be marked with indelible ink after voting. However, monitoring groups have raised concerns about alleged anomalies in the voters’ roll, including the movement of names from their usual voting locations to other areas. There has also been criticism regarding last-minute boundary changes, leaving voters unaware of their assigned polling station.
President Mnangagwa, seeking a second term in office, is keen to obtain international recognition for the legitimacy of the election. This stamp of approval could pave the way for the restructuring of Zimbabwe’s foreign debt and potentially unlock lines of credit that have been frozen for over two decades. Mnangagwa has faced significant challenges in managing the country’s roller-coaster inflation rate, which surged to 176% in June, though recent figures show a decline to 77.2% in July from 101.3%.
The ruling party, Zanu-PF, decided against producing a manifesto, asserting that the president’s work speaks for itself, highlighting the mining boom and substantial investments in infrastructure. However, the CCC argues that ordinary citizens have not benefitted from these developments, with a staggering one in four Zimbabweans unemployed. Chamisa has vowed to eliminate the volatile local currency if he emerges victorious.
Polls are set to close at 19:00 local time (17:00 GMT), and the announcement of the presidential results is expected within five days.
By Jide Johnson for BBC.
