Zimbabweans Go to the Polls for Change Amid Uncertainty Over Ruling Party’s Hold on Power
Zimbabwe is heading to the polls with citizens yearning for change after enduring two decades of relentless economic turmoil. However, many are skeptical that the ruling ZANU-PF party will allow a fair election or relinquish its stranglehold on power.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, seeking re-election after a challenging first term marked by runaway inflation, currency shortages, and soaring unemployment, is facing 10 other candidates, including his main challenger Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Mnangagwa assumed power in 2017 following the removal of longtime leader Robert Mugabe in a military coup. This election will be a rematch between Mnangagwa and Chamisa, with the opposition still alleging rigging in the previous closely contested poll in 2018, which the country’s constitutional court upheld.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. with around 6.6 million registered voters in a nation of approximately 15 million people. Vote-counting will commence immediately after polling stations close, and parliamentary results are expected to trickle in throughout Thursday morning. The presidential outcome is anticipated to follow, although well ahead of the five-day deadline.
Political analysts believe that Zimbabwe’s enduring economic crisis could tilt the contest in favor of the opposition if the election is conducted fairly. The local currency has significantly weakened this year, and triple-digit inflation continues to drive people deeper into poverty, with only 30% of the population holding formal employment. Nonetheless, analysts argue that ZANU-PF, which has been in power for over four decades, maintains an unfair advantage due to its control over key institutions, including the police.
Africa Risk Consulting, a private firm, highlights the heavily imbalanced electoral playing field, stating that the ruling party has used state institutions to suppress the democratic space. Despite a relatively peaceful lead-up to the election, opposition rallies have been regularly banned, and opposition supporters have been arrested using strict public order laws. Both ZANU-PF and the police deny attempting to influence the outcome.
Zimbabwe has a history of contested and alleged rigged elections, some of which resulted in violence. Thus, there is a high probability that the outcome of this election will be challenged. Nelson Chamisa has declared that a repeat of the 2018 election will not be tolerated and that they will not accept a rigged vote.
Amid the campaign, Mnangagwa has consistently called for peace and tolerance in his speeches, declaring that those seeking to perpetrate violence will face consequences. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure over 50% of the vote. In the event of no outright winner, a run-off between the top two candidates will be held on October 2nd. Parliamentary and local council candidates only require a simple majority.
With the fate of Zimbabwe’s debt crisis at stake, as foreign lenders have stipulated a free and fair election as a prerequisite for meaningful talks, the outcome of this election carries significant implications for the cash-strapped nation’s future.
In conclusion, Zimbabweans are casting their votes with hope for change after years of economic turmoil. However, doubts linger over the fairness of the election and the ruling party’s willingness to loosen its grip on power. Only time will tell if this marks a turning point in the nation’s history.
