HARARE: Zimbabweans cross to the polls on Monday within the first election since the removing of Robert Mugabe, a watershed vote they hope will rid the rustic of its world pariah status and spark a recovery in its failed economy.
The election will see 75-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a long-time Mugabe ally, face 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa, a legal professional and pastor who is vying to become Zimbabwe's youngest head of state.
Polls give former intelligence leader Mnangagwa, who took over as president after the military ousted Mugabe in a cold coup closing November, just a slim lead over Chamisa. That makes a runoff on Sept. 8 a chance if no candidate wins greater than half of the votes.
Nicknamed "the Crocodile", an animal famed in Zimbabwean lore for its stealth and ruthlessness, Mnangagwa has pledged to restore a moribund economy, attract overseas funding and mend racial and tribal divisions.
"People are saying, and I share their views, that something special is coming to Zimbabwe," Mnangagwa said at his final rally in Harare's national stadium.
"Once re-elected on Monday with a real mandate for change and a full five-year term, I guarantee you it's ‘Go and Go' in our country. My commitment is to bring concrete change that will give comfort to all Zimbabweans."
Chamisa, a charismatic speaker who honed his craft within the courtroom and the pulpit, is winning over younger and unemployed voters who are frustrated with nearly four many years of Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) rule.
"The momentum is huge. Victory is certain. There is nothing that can stop the people of Zimbabwe claiming their victory," Chamisa told journalists on Sunday.
"We are pulling out all the stops. We are leaving no stone unturned ... to make sure we win this election."
In a wonder intervention on Sunday, Mugabe said he would vote for the opposition, turning on his one-time allies.
Mnangagwa later accused his former boss of hanging a deal with Chamisa, however provided no evidence.
"The choice is clear, you either vote for Mugabe under the guise of Chamisa or you vote for a new Zimbabwe under my leadership and ZANU-PF," Mnangagwa said in a video on his official Facebook page.
For Zimbabwe to be welcomed back into the world fold, end painful sanctions and safe the donor funding program it must stem continual money shortages, it needs the observers to no less than log out the vote as credible.
There were reports of intimidation and coercion, and state media is biased towards the ZANU–PF however there is consensus that the process has been higher than ahead of.
New Zimbabwe?
Mnangagwa has welcomed in overseas media and world observers from the European Union, the United States and the Commonwealth, whilst opposition parties were allowed to campaign freely.
Chamisa's Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) has already discredited the process. He accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of bias, citing opaque ballot paper printing and a voters' roll that incorporates lifeless people and children.
The ZEC has time and again defended its independence.
While the election will not be judged ‘unfastened and honest', analysts say it can be classed as ‘just right sufficient' when measured towards the rigging and violent suppression that marred votes beneath Mugabe.
Mnangagwa, often referred to as just "ED", has made a gigantic effort to win over the world group; web hosting Western ambassadors, relationship overseas traders or even patching up relations with white industrial farmers who were violently evicted from their farms beneath Mugabe.
"Look what he has done in just seven months. The place has changed," said Patrick Musemburi, a 37-year-old minibus taxi motive force within the capital Harare.
"Let him finish what he started."
For all his communicate of a ‘new' Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa's fighters are at pains to remind those that he was once a depended on lieutenant of Mugabe for five many years and has failed to deliver on promises of alternate prior to now.
"How long are we supposed to wait for things to get better? ED is full of lies just like the rest of the ZANU-PF," said Chris Lore, a 26-year old boulevard hawker.
"Chamisa is young. He has the energy to get us the jobs we need. It's time for a change. We have suffered enough."
Whoever wins will face the mammoth activity of hanging Zimbabwe back on track after 37 years of Mugabe rule that was once tainted by corruption, mismanagement and diplomatic isolation, sending one in all Africa's maximum promising economies into crisis.
The election will see 75-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a long-time Mugabe ally, face 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa, a legal professional and pastor who is vying to become Zimbabwe's youngest head of state.
Polls give former intelligence leader Mnangagwa, who took over as president after the military ousted Mugabe in a cold coup closing November, just a slim lead over Chamisa. That makes a runoff on Sept. 8 a chance if no candidate wins greater than half of the votes.
Nicknamed "the Crocodile", an animal famed in Zimbabwean lore for its stealth and ruthlessness, Mnangagwa has pledged to restore a moribund economy, attract overseas funding and mend racial and tribal divisions.
"People are saying, and I share their views, that something special is coming to Zimbabwe," Mnangagwa said at his final rally in Harare's national stadium.
"Once re-elected on Monday with a real mandate for change and a full five-year term, I guarantee you it's ‘Go and Go' in our country. My commitment is to bring concrete change that will give comfort to all Zimbabweans."
Chamisa, a charismatic speaker who honed his craft within the courtroom and the pulpit, is winning over younger and unemployed voters who are frustrated with nearly four many years of Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) rule.
"The momentum is huge. Victory is certain. There is nothing that can stop the people of Zimbabwe claiming their victory," Chamisa told journalists on Sunday.
"We are pulling out all the stops. We are leaving no stone unturned ... to make sure we win this election."
In a wonder intervention on Sunday, Mugabe said he would vote for the opposition, turning on his one-time allies.
Mnangagwa later accused his former boss of hanging a deal with Chamisa, however provided no evidence.
"The choice is clear, you either vote for Mugabe under the guise of Chamisa or you vote for a new Zimbabwe under my leadership and ZANU-PF," Mnangagwa said in a video on his official Facebook page.
For Zimbabwe to be welcomed back into the world fold, end painful sanctions and safe the donor funding program it must stem continual money shortages, it needs the observers to no less than log out the vote as credible.
There were reports of intimidation and coercion, and state media is biased towards the ZANU–PF however there is consensus that the process has been higher than ahead of.
New Zimbabwe?
Mnangagwa has welcomed in overseas media and world observers from the European Union, the United States and the Commonwealth, whilst opposition parties were allowed to campaign freely.
Chamisa's Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) has already discredited the process. He accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of bias, citing opaque ballot paper printing and a voters' roll that incorporates lifeless people and children.
The ZEC has time and again defended its independence.
While the election will not be judged ‘unfastened and honest', analysts say it can be classed as ‘just right sufficient' when measured towards the rigging and violent suppression that marred votes beneath Mugabe.
Mnangagwa, often referred to as just "ED", has made a gigantic effort to win over the world group; web hosting Western ambassadors, relationship overseas traders or even patching up relations with white industrial farmers who were violently evicted from their farms beneath Mugabe.
"Look what he has done in just seven months. The place has changed," said Patrick Musemburi, a 37-year-old minibus taxi motive force within the capital Harare.
"Let him finish what he started."
For all his communicate of a ‘new' Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa's fighters are at pains to remind those that he was once a depended on lieutenant of Mugabe for five many years and has failed to deliver on promises of alternate prior to now.
"How long are we supposed to wait for things to get better? ED is full of lies just like the rest of the ZANU-PF," said Chris Lore, a 26-year old boulevard hawker.
"Chamisa is young. He has the energy to get us the jobs we need. It's time for a change. We have suffered enough."
Whoever wins will face the mammoth activity of hanging Zimbabwe back on track after 37 years of Mugabe rule that was once tainted by corruption, mismanagement and diplomatic isolation, sending one in all Africa's maximum promising economies into crisis.
Zimbabweans vote in first election since Mugabe's removal
![Zimbabweans vote in first election since Mugabe's removal]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
July 30, 2018
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