First historical choice after the Mugabe era in Zimbabwe «kleinezeitung.at



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For the first time since the overthrow of longtime leader Robert Mugabe, elections were held in Zimbabwe. The two most promising presidential candidates, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, were confident in the win. According to EU election observers, the electoral process was partly ordered, partly chaotic.

18.42, July 30, 2018

© APA (AFP) [19659008]

Approximately 5.7 million citizens were called to vote in presidential elections , parliamentarians and municipal. Very early Monday, long queues formed in front of the polling stations. Speaking at noon, Priscilla Chigumba, president of the Electoral Commission, said that she had a high turnout.

Elmar Brok, chief observer for the first time re-elected EU Election Observation Mission, said the vote had been very good in many offices. have. Many young people, especially women, would have left waiting lines frustrated and bored by long waits. For his team is not clear, whether it is a coincidence or was due to bad organization. The preliminary report of the EU mission is expected to be presented later this week.

Chamisa opposition leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had previously claimed that in urban areas where MDC approval was high, Attempt to prevent voters from voting and frustrate them. If it's a "real choice" and "not a fake, then the win is safe," said the 40-year-old defender in the vote to supporters in Harare.

In his vote in Kwekwe City rejected the successor of Mugabe Mnangagwa of the ruling Zanu-PF party supports Mugabe's accusation that the elections are not free because a military government holds. In Zimbabwe, there are unprecedented democratic spaces in which everyone can freely express his opinion, said the head of state. He was "very happy that the election campaign is peaceful and the vote is peaceful today." Earlier, Mnangagwa said all Zimbabweans were independent of party preferences, brothers and sisters.

Robert Mugabe himself went to Harare with his wife Grace and wrote on Twitter a photo of his vote: "The voice of the people is the voice of God. "It was the first time in decades that Mugabe could not vote for himself.He resigned in November as a result of a military coup.Zanu-PF then did his former vice president Mnangagwa Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe since the independence of Britain in 1980 – more recently with a harder and harder hand.

The 94-year-old man called the voters to veto his ex-party Zanu-PF. "I can not vote for those who tormented me," Mugabe said, suggesting that they vote for the MDC. former president has the right to express himself in the new democracy, said Mnangagwa on Mugabe's declarations on Monday

The elections under Mugabe's rule meant fraud and violence, even after his departure there was had fears that the vote could be manipulated.The MDC lamented a flawed voters list, 39 Abuse of ballots and intimidation of voters. The party also accused the electoral commission of being biased. In addition, Mnangagwa and his Zanu-PF party have shamelessly abused government resources, including state media, for their campaign, Chamisa said.

However, observers spoke of the most free and fair Zimbabwean elections in many years. For the first time in many years, election observers from the United States and the EU were again present.

Polling stations were scheduled to close at 7:00 pm CEST, although those still in power were allowed to vote. Results are expected by August 4th. If none of the 23 candidates in the presidential election reach an absolute majority in the first round, there will be a second round on September 8th.

A voter from Kuwadzana, one of the poorest districts of Harare, said that it was time that ". She chose Chamisa, said Miriam Mundaringisa (38), "because we need a new Zimbabwe, no false promises of Mnangagwa". Even Tawanda Petru, 28, did not hide her decision: "I'm going to vote for Chamisa, for change, I'm not afraid." The unemployed hope for "a better Zimbabwe for my children".

On the other hand, Robina Mayobongwe, aged 80, said that she had voted in favor of Mnangagwa. The "boy" was not trustworthy, they wanted to return the land to colonial rulers. The first voter Melinda Matukuturi, 21, said she would vote for Mnangagwa to have a "vision" of the country.

The next government faces mbad unemployment, the collapse of agriculture, hyperinflation, and foreign investment. The previously stable health and education system in the country is in ruins, millions of Zimbabweans have fled in search of work abroad. At the age of 61, life expectancy has only recently reached the level of 1985.


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