Countdown to Zimbabwe’s elections of a new president

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