Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party appears set to win a majority in parliament after winning 109 seats so far in national elections, the electoral commission announced Wednesday.
According to the electoral commission, 70% of registered voters cast their ballot.
The commission has said it would only announce the result of the presidential vote once all 10,985 polling stations verified their results.
Both Mnangagwa and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Nelson Chamisa both hinted they were ahead on Tuesday in the country’s first election without the name of former ruler Robert Mugabe on the ballot paper.
Mnangagwa, 75, who took power after helping to orchestrate a de facto coup against Mugabe in November, said he was receiving « extremely positive » information on the election. While Chamisa, 40, said his party was poised for victory.
ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba told reporters in Harare on Tuesday that the Commission was confident there was no cheating or rigging in the largely peaceful vote. Observers present to monitor the election for the first time in years, including 20 teams from the United States Embassy in Harare, have not yet shared their assessments.
Last week, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights raised concerns of voter intimidation and threats of violence ahead of the vote.
The ZEC has until August 4 to release final results. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a run-off will be held on September 8.
« I am delighted by the high turnout and citizen engagement so far. The information from our reps on the ground is extremely positive! » Mnangagwa said on Twitter Tuesday.
Known as « the crocodile » for his political cunning and longevity, Mnangagwa has attempted to rebrand the ruling Zanu-PF party, pledging to heal divisions and rebuild the country. But he is still widely considered to be Mugabe’s man given that he worked so closely with him for more than 40 years, first as his special assistant during the 1977 liberation war, and later as security minister and justice minister.
Chamisa — the country’s youngest ever presidential candidate — who took over MDC leadership following the death of its founder Morgan Tsvangirai in February tweeted on Tuesday that his party had done « exceedingly well. »
During the campaign, Chamisa aimed to appeal to younger voters with promises of electoral reform, tax cuts and jobs.
While his message may strike a chord, he does not have the same level of backing from the security forces or military who oversaw Mugabe’s departure.
But both men face a mighty challenge to help the country recover from the dire economic situation which was inflicted upon it by Mugabe’s rule.
