Polls have opened in Zimbabwe as President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeks a second and last time period in a rustic with a historical past of violent and disputed votes
ByFARAI MUTSAKA Related Press
Supporters of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa attend a marketing campaign rally in Harare, Aug. 9, 2023. 80-year-old Mnangagwa is now looking for re-election for a second time period as president in a vote this week that would see the ruling ZANU-PF get together lengthen a 43-year maintain on energy. (AP Photograph/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Related Press
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Polls have opened in Zimbabwe Wednesday as President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeks a second and last time period in a rustic with a historical past of violent and disputed votes.
These are the second normal elections for the reason that ouster of longtime repressive ruler Robert Mugabe in a coup in 2017.
There are 12 presidential candidates on the poll. The principle contest is predicted to be between the 80-year-old Mnangagwa, often called the “the crocodile”, and 45-year-old opposition chief Nelson Chamisa. Mnangagwa narrowly beat Chamisa in a disputed election in 2018.
Chamisa hopes to interrupt the ruling ZANU-PF get together’s 43-year maintain on energy.
A runoff election will likely be held on Oct. 2. if no candidate wins a transparent majority within the first spherical.
This election additionally will decide the make-up of the 350-seat parliament and near 2,000 native council positions.
The southern African nation of 15 million folks with huge mineral sources, together with Africa’s largest reserves of lithium which is a key element in making electrical automobile batteries, has identified solely two leaders since gaining independence from white minority rule in 1980.