Penplusbytes’ African Elections Project (AEP)  is providing a comprehensive coverage of the Zimbabwe general elections slated for Monday 30th July 2018.

Voters have been queuing at election centers all over the country from 7am local time today. This election is the latest turning point in the most tumultuous few months in almost four decades of Zimbabwe’s political history.

In November, Robert Mugabe was forced out of power after 37 years, following a peaceful military takeover supported by the vast majority of the 17 million population. This election could decide the former British colony’s course for decades to come.

The election pits Zanu-PF, the ruling party, against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the longstanding opposition. Zanu-PF is led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, a 75-year-old former vice president known as “the Crocodile” who took power when Mugabe was ousted. Polls indicate a potentially close race, but one Zanu-PF should win.

The African Elections Project (AEP) established in 2008 to empower journalists to cover elections using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) across the continent is poised to use new digital tools to cover the elections.

According to the Programmes Director of Penplusbytes, Jerry Sam, “Most analysts have described this elections as a watershed event to determine the political future of Zimbabwe after years under Mugabe’s rule. We look forward to a peaceful elections and subsequent transfer of power as a continent. African Elections Project is excited to be following and bringing audiences up-to-the-minute updates on happenings till when polls close and afterwards.”

He added that AEP is committed to contribute to a better election by working with the media and civil society organizations through the provision of independent information and impartial coverage using ICTs.

In addition to its flagship online portal, http://www.africanelections.org AEP is covering this elections using other new media tools such as Facebook, blogs, SMS and Twitter 

The project has recently covered the Malian Elections which took place on Sunday 29th July this year and has successfully covered elections in Botswana, Namibia, Ghana, Mauritania, Mozambique, Malawi, Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Uganda, Cameroon and Niger.

Through the AEP, over 100 journalists have been trained in the use of digital tools to cover elections in Africa. Over 17 million citizens have been reached across the continent.

Penplusbytes urges all Zimbabweans to conduct themselves at the polls for a free, fair and peaceful elections.

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