Zimbabwe is set to hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23, as confirmed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday. The announcement comes at a critical time for the southern African nation, which is grappling with a severe economic crisis. Mnangagwa, who assumed the presidency in 2018 following a military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, will be seeking re-election for a second term in office.
The 80-year-old president’s primary challenger is Nelson Chamisa, a 45-year-old lawyer and pastor who leads the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The upcoming election proclamation coincides with ongoing parliamentary discussions regarding electoral reforms. Chamisa’s party is demanding transparency through access to and an audit of the voters’ roll, as well as equal access to public media in order to level the playing field ahead of the polls.
Political analysts warn that the failure to implement these electoral reforms may lead to another disputed election in Zimbabwe. The country’s economy is still struggling to recover from decades of decline and periods of financial turmoil during Mugabe’s leadership.
The opposition has criticized the government for rampant corruption and economic mismanagement. Mnangagwa, on the other hand, claims that his ZANU-PF government has made progress in re-engaging with western countries and blames western sanctions for the nation’s economic woes and its inability to address its growing debt.
The CCC opposition party has pledged to restore the rule of law and attract foreign funding if it is voted into power.
