Zimbabweans are gearing up for a pivotal election next week, with high hopes that this could mark the end of the nation’s prolonged economic struggles. However, these aspirations are tinged with concerns over the apparent bias in favor of a political party that has maintained power for over forty years.
Once a thriving economy due to its mineral wealth, Zimbabwe plunged into economic chaos in 2000 when former leader Robert Mugabe orchestrated the forceful appropriation of white-owned farms, resettling landless Black citizens. Mugabe’s three-decade rule came to an end in 2017, toppled by a military coup, and was succeeded by long-time confidante President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Nevertheless, the anticipated economic revival remains elusive.
In the upcoming Wednesday election, there are eleven contenders vying for the presidency. The real showdown, however, lies between 80-year-old Mnangagwa and 45-year-old lawyer-pastor Nelson Chamisa, who spearheads the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC). Alongside the presidential race, elections for lawmakers and local council leaders will also transpire.
The 2018 election saw Mnangagwa emerge victorious, though the opposition challenged the outcome to no avail. Political experts suggest history may repeat itself in this regard. The ruling ZANU-PF party dismisses claims of an uneven playing field, while critics anticipate another contested election.
“The path seems clear towards another disputed election,” asserted political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya, highlighting issues such as a contentious voters roll. The opposition CCC has taken legal action to gain access to electronic voter roll copies for comprehensive analysis. While the electoral commission has supplied printed copies to all parties, the courts are yet to rule on the CCC’s application, one of numerous opposition-initiated legal challenges leading up to the vote.
Concerns of voter intimidation, particularly in rural regions, have arisen, according to the Electoral Resource Centre (ERC), a voter watchdog group. ERC noted, “General public sentiment, as noted in several surveys, reveals that people have very little confidence in the electoral process as well as the election management body in the country.”
The opposition alleges systematic arrests of its supporters under stringent public order laws and instances of violent intimidation by ZANU-PF backers. Amidst these claims, the ruling party refutes bias in court decisions, police actions, and public media coverage. Chris Mutsvangwa, ZANU-PF spokesperson, countered opposition allegations, accusing them of aiming to criticize the electoral process preemptively.
Wilbert Mandinde of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum highlighted the concerning human rights landscape during the campaign, expressing disapproval of the opposition’s struggles to assemble and campaign freely.
The last election, in 2018, saw Mnangagwa narrowly surpass Chamisa, a result disputed by the opposition. Young voters, unfamiliar with a prosperous Zimbabwe, are predicted to play a significant role, constituting a sixth of the registered electorate. As the country stands on the precipice of change, the youth holds the reins of transformation.
