General elections held in Zimbabwe

Although there are 11 candidates vying for the people’s vote, the main contenders for the presidential seat are the incumbent president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, of the ruling ZANU-PF party, and Nelson Chamisa, of the former opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC). Movement for Democratic Change, led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

In the event that neither of them receives 50% of the vote, a second round is scheduled for October 2nd.

Candidates for parliament and local councils need a simple majority of the votes cast.

For this election, some 6.6 million people are registered, compared to 5.7 million potential voters in 2018, according to the National Electoral Commission.

During the last general elections of 2018, Mnangagwa received 52.3 percent of the vote, while the Chamisa-led opposition got 44 percent.

Similarly, out of 270 parliamentary seats, the Zimbabwe African Union Party-Patriotic Front won 179 to the opposition’s 91.

In his campaign, Mnangagwa says his government has created opportunities for Zimbabweans in the economy through policies that support their participation in sectors such as mining and agriculture (the two largest sectors in the country).

And the current president confirms that, in addition to electoral promises, his administration at the head of the country in recent years speaks in his favour.

For his part, Chamisa stressed that he will direct his administration to achieve victory, develop the economy, fight corruption and put an end to the isolation in which Zimbabwe finds itself, as he confirms.

He claimed that the CCC government would enforce fiscal discipline and “restore respect for human rights, property rights, and attract investment.”

Currently, although Zimbabwe is going through an economic crisis, according to international observers, there has been remarkable growth in mining and agriculture, as well as massive investment in roads, dams and power.

Poem/MV