Lerato Mbhiza
Zimbabweans head to the polls on Wednesday 23 August to choose the country’s next president in what political pundits believe to be a tight race.
This would be the ninth democratic election since Zimbabwe attained its independence in 1980.
While the focus is mostly on the presidential elections, across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, the electorate will also cast votes for local government and parliament representatives.
This will be a rematch between the young pastor Nelson Chamisa (45) and the man who defeated him in the 2018 presidential election, Emmerson Mnangagwa (80). At the time Chamisa came second, with 44% of the vote and Mnangagwa won with a narrow margin of 50.8% of the vote and avoided a run-off.
The election comes as Zimbabwe is facing high unemployment, a local currency that is rapidly losing value against the US Dollar and hyperinflation that has eroded purchasing power meaning growing the economy will be a major determinant of who wins in this year’s elections.
Currently the Zimbabwean dollar is trading at $1 to $6,800 US, while annual June inflation stood at 175.8 percent.
Under Mnangagwa’s watch, the economy has shrunk, and half the population lives in extreme poverty.
29-year-old Tafadzwa, a Zimbabwean living in South Africa, doesn’t believe change will come with the elections. “On my side I won’t go back home to vote because it won’t bring any change to the youth, looking at the economic crisis and high unemployment rate in the country”.
And Tinashe 34, who also lives in South Africa said the votes will be manipulated and ZANU-PF may win the election again “I don’t see this election as free, they are going to manipulate the ballots to win the election, it won’t be a fair election, Zimbabwe is tired of corruption”.
While Tanaka 28 said casting a vote will make a difference to her life. “I am going home. I have registered to vote. I am going to bring change to my country and bring peace. I am hoping that after the elections, I will see a lot of change economically and more investors coming to my home country”.
An opposition party spokesperson Mthulisi Hanana has alleged elections in Zimbabwe have become ‘an extreme sport’. “Zanu-PF officials preach peace during the day and unleash violence during the night.The default settings of ZANU-PF are when they have run out of ideas”.
Last week Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba briefed the media ahead of the elections and said the Commission is not influenced by government, individuals or any other organisations as sometimes alleged.
Chigumba, affirmed that the commission is “ready to conduct the 2023 harmonised elections”, following successful voter registrations initiatives.
“In its operations, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is not influenced by the government, individuals or any other organisations as sometimes alleged. Section 235 of the constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees the commission’s independence” she added.
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