Polls have opened in over 10,000 polling stations across Zimbabwe where 5.5million eligible Zimbabwe voters are expected to elect a new leader in the country’s first election since authoritarian leader Robert Mugabe was ousted last year.
The incumbent 75 year old President, Emmerson Mnangagwa , Mugabe's former ally in the ruling ZANU-PF party, faces opposition leader 40 year old Nelson Chamisa of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) in a historic vote where alleged ballot fraud and the likelihood of a disputed result clouding voting day.
Mugabe, who was ousted by the military in November, made a surprise intervention on the eve of the elections, calling for voters to vote out ZANU-PF office saying he cannot trust them.
Altogether 23 candidates will contest the presidential election. Fifty-five parties are also contesting the parliamentary election, the biggest number by far in Zimbabwe's post-colonial history.
The presidential election outcome would be announced within five days according to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). If no candidate gains the required majority to be declared a winner, the elections goes into a second round with the two leading candidates contesting each other.
What are your expectations? The African Elections Project will be covering the elections online especially on Twitter. Join the conversation!
What are your expectations? The African Elections Project will be covering the elections online especially on Twitter. Join the conversation!
AEP
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