L-R: Opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa and Incumbent, President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Mnangagwa, Chamisa set for showdown as Zimbabwe National Elections to hold July 30
President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa might be set to fulfil his promise in January of conducting the country’s election ‘in the next five months’.
The 75-year Mnangagwa, who was Robert Mugabe’s vice president, will lead the long-ruling ZANU-PF party against the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, led by 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa.
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Zimbabwe to hold Elections in Next Five Months
Mnangagwa had planned to conduct the elections in June. But the current development is that the elections are billed to hold on July 30, “the day of the election of the president, the election of members of the National Assembly and election of councillors.”
That will be first national election for the southern African nation since gaining independence in 1980 without the 94-year-old Mugabe’s name on the ballot.
Robert Mugabe was ousted from power by the military last November after he attempted to succeed himself with his wife, Grace.
President Mnangagwa has pledged the elections will be free and fair, and has invited international observers to monitor the voting.
During the fourth leg of his tour of the region in which he is apprising Heads of State and Government on political developments in Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa said free and fair polls were critical in repositioning Zimbabwe as a democratic State within the international system.
“Zimbabwe is going for elections in four to five months’ time and we have to preach peace, peace and peace because we know it is good for us and we have no doubt that we will have peaceful elections.
“We will ensure that Zimbabwe delivers free, credible, fair and indisputable elections to ensure Zimbabwe engages the world as a qualified democratic state.”, he said