Zimbabwe Begins Election Countdown

By: Jessy Maduma

Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa announced this week that the long-awaited election will take place on August 23, with a presidential runoff election scheduled for October 2 if necessary.

This election will determine the makeup of the 300-seat parliament and over 2,000 local councils in addition to the presidency.

It comes amid significant economic challenges, with the value of Zimbabwe’s currency plummeting, prices rising, and markets demanding U.S. dollars for goods and services with consumers grappling with a wave of price hikes on basic goods and services, dealing a significant blow to the country’s economy.

Zimbabwe’s economy has failed to recover from decades of recession and financial disarray under former President Mugabe’s rule.

The opposition has accused the government of increasing corruption and incompetence, while human rights organizations have accused Mnangagwa of stifling dissent; charges the ruling Zanu-PF party denies.

President Mnangagwa, who was elected president in 2018 after a military intervention that deposed the late former President Robert Mugabe the previous year, is seeking a second term in office.

The President’s main rival is lawyer and Pastor Nelson Chamisa, who leads the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

If elected into power, the opposition CCC has pledged to restore the rule of law and unlock foreign funding.

Zimbabwe has faced severe economic problems for years and has been under U.S. sanctions for two decades over human rights abuses.

The upcoming election will be closely watched by the international community, and it is hoped that it will be conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner.