Zimbabweans are choosing their next president today, in the country’s second election since Robert Mugabe was overthrown.The vote is taking place against a tense backdrop of a decimated economy, longstanding corruption and an alleged crackdown on the opposition.Current president Emmerson Mnangagwa, 80, took office in 2018 as the head of the leading party – the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).He was known to be a close ally to Mugabe, who ruled for 37 years, but later helped to depose him in 2017.

While there are 11 candidates in today’s election, the race will likely come down to a race between Mr Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the opposition party – the Citizen’s Coalition for Change (CCC).ZANU-PF has governed the southern African nation since it won its independence from Britain in 1980.It has many loyal supporters, especially in the rural areas, who see it as the party of liberation from colonial rule.

 

People queue in order to cast their ballot outside a polling station located in the suburb of Mbare in Zimbabwe's capital Harare, on July 30, 2018.

People queuing to cast their ballot in the 2018 election (Picture: Getty)
Main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa makes a speech during an election rally organized by supporters of CCC party ahead of the Zimbabwean 2023 general elections in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on August 20, 2023.
Nelson Chamisa at a campaign rally in Bulawayo on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa greets his supporters during the election rally of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in Midlands province, ahead of Zimbabwean 2023 general elections held on Aug. 23, in Zimbabwe on August 19, 2023.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa greeting his supporters at a rally last week (Picture: Getty)

The other candidates are:

  • Joseph Makamba Busha from FreeZim Congress
  • Trust Tapiwa Chikohora from the Zimbabwe Coalition For Peace and Development
  • Blessing Kasiyamhuru from Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity
  • Lovemore Madhuku from the National Constitutional Assembly
  • Wilbert Archbald Mubaiwa from the National People’s Congress
  • Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa from The United African National Council
  • Harry Peter Wilson from the Democratic Opposition Party

But many Zimbabweans are fed up with how difficult things are and some political pundits believe this may mean a different outcome this year.Nearly half (7.9 million) people live in extreme poverty, according to the World Bank’s 2021 economic and social update report which defines this as people living on £21 a month.The country has long had one of the highest rates of inflation in the world, most recently recorded at 175.8% – the UK’s is currently 6.4%.Lawyer and activist Fadzayi Mahere, who is currently working with the CCC, told Metro.co.uk: ‘It really is a slow, burning crisis and I think the problem we have is that a lot of the world thinks that because Mugabe is gone, everything is okay.‘But things have gotten worse. It’s only that we don’t have the spotlight over the crisis that we once did.’

Supporters gather for the the election rally of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in Midlands province, ahead of Zimbabwean 2023 general elections held on Aug. 23, in Zimbabwe on August 19, 2023.

ZANU-PF has been the ruling party since Zimbabwe won its independence in 1980 (Picture: Getty)

A man walks past a wall displaying portraits of Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in Harare,

This is the second election since Robert Mugabe was deposed in 2017 (Picture: AP)

The ruling party has often blamed its financial troubles on US sanctions imposed on it for human rights violations two decades ago.Although ZANU-PF evidently enjoys a huge following, Mr Mnangagwa only narrowly beat Mr Chamisa in 2018.A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to be declared the winner and Mr Mnangagwa secured 50.8%.The result was challenged in the Constitutional Court, as was every other election outcome in the last 21 years, but Mr Mnangagwa’s victory was upheld.

Today’s election at a glance:

  • Almost 7 million people are registered to vote at polling stations set up across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces
  • There are 11 approved candidates but the election will likely come down to a race between Emmerson Mnangagwa, from the ruling party ZANU-PF, and Nelson Chamisa, from the opposition CCC
  • Members of parliament and councillors will also be elected – on a first-past-the-post basis
  • The results have to legally be announced within five days after voting ends
  • If there is no outright presidential winner (the victor needs more than 50% of the vote), a run-off will be held on October 2
  • There are longstanding fears about election corruption and fraud but many are hopeful this year will be different
  • Zimbabwean citizens are not allowed to vote abroad

 

epa10813308 Men stand next to a billboard against political violence in Harare, Zimbabwe, 22 August 2023. Zimbabweans go to the polls on 23 August 2023. EPA/AARON UFUMELI

A billboard advocating for no electoral violence this year in the capital of Harare (Picture: EPA)

A woman carrying her baby casts her ballot in a polling station located in the suburb of Mbare in Zimbabwe's capital Harare.

A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win the election (Picture: Getty)

ZANU-PF has repeatedly been accused of voter intimidation and unfair electoral processes, with the CCC claiming its followers are often ‘intimidated and harassed’.Ms Mahere, who spoke at May’s UN Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, described the current government as ‘authoritarian and repressive’.She said she knows of CCC supporters in rural areas who have faced having their homes burnt down just for wearing the party’s colour yellow.ZANU-PF has denied all these allegations many times, with spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa telling reporters last week that the opposition is ‘obsessed with criticising the electoral process so that they have something to say after losing’.2018’s voting day went largely without international criticism as freedom of movement and relative peace were maintained.But six people were killed when security officers opened fire on protesters the next day.The country has often seen brutal electoral violence in the past, with more than 500 left dead in 2002 and more than 200 opposition supporters killed in 2008, according to Amnesty International.

A Zimbabwean soldier beats a man in a street of Harare on August 1, 2018 as protests erupted over alleged fraud in the country's election.

A soldier beating a man in Harare on August 1, 2018, after protests erupted over alleged election fraud (Picture: Getty)

A supporter of Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) lays in the back of a pickup after three men were beaten up by ruling party supporters at Marondela, Zimbabwe, March 1,2002.

A supporter of the former opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change, covered in blood after clashes with ruling party supporters (Picture: Reuters)

Some 6.6 million people have registered to vote this year and one-sixth of these are first-timers.On top of choosing a president, they will also be electing councillors and members of parliament.Zimbabwean citizens are not allowed to vote abroad, despite thousands of them living in neighbouring countries such as South Africa.An electrician who lives in the capital of Harare, Munyaradzi Mushawatu, does not have much hope.He said: ‘It’s only the election date that is new. The usual old obstacles remain. I will vote, but I am not convinced that we are in a new era.’