Voting has started in Zimbabwe as President Emmerson Mnangagwa runs for a second and last term in a nation with a history of violent and contentious elections, multiple sources are reporting.
The election, which are taking place on Wednesday, is the second since a coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, a longstanding authoritarian ruler, in 2017.
There are 12 candidates running for president, but the major race is anticipated to be between the opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, 45, and the 80-year-old “crocodile” Mnangagwa.
In a contentious election in 2018, Mnangagwa just barely defeated Chamisa.
Read also: Zimbabwe’s president sets general elections for August 23
Chamisa wants to end the ZANU-PF party’s 43-year reign of terror. Since breaking free from the control of the white minority in 1980, Zimbabwe has only had two presidents.
If no candidate receives a clear majority of the vote in the first round, a run-off election will be place on October 2.
Additionally, the 350-seat parliament and about 2,000 local council positions will be filled by this election.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
