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Harare – Opposition to Zimbabwe claimed victory of candidate Nelson Chamisa on Tuesday in the first round of the presidential election against incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, former President Robert Mugabe's party boss -seven years in power until its fall last year.
" The results show beyond reasonable doubt that we won the elections and that the next president of Zimbabwe is Nelson Chamisa ," said a senior official of the Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC), Tendai Biti, saying to be based on the results of the party agents.
For his part, President Mnangagwa, who succeeded President Robert Mugabe in November 2007 in a coup, said he was confident of winning the first elections since the fall of the father of independence. who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since 1980.
The official results of Monday's presidential, legislative and municipal elections, which are essentially between the ruling Zanu-PF and the MDC, have not yet been announced, fueling in opposition the suspicions of " interference " of the government camp in the electoral process.
" There is a deliberate delay in announcing the results.This delay is totally unacceptable ," said Tendai Biti, former respected Minister of Finance, putting " to the challenge ] "the electoral commission, the ZEC, to announce the results.
The first results were expected on Tuesday and the complete results by August 4th.
A few hours earlier, Mr. Chamisa, 40, had already claimed a " dazzling victory " over his 75-year-old rival. " We are ready to form the next government ," he said on his Twitter account.
Mr. Mnangagwa, Mr. Mugabe's former right-hand man, quickly responded by implying that he was leading the race.
" The information obtained by my representatives in the field is extremely positive ," he said on his Twitter account, saying " delighted by the high turnout ] ".
– " No Fraud " –
Many Zimbabweans went to the polls Monday for these historic elections.
According to the electoral commission, the turnout was around 75% one hour before polls closed.
Before the elections, Mnangagwa was the favorite of the presidential election, even if the gap with his main opponent was recently reduced, according to a survey published ten days ago.
If no candidate obtains an absolute majority of votes in the first round, a second round will be held on 8 September.
The Zimbabwe Election Commission, much criticized by the opposition throughout the electoral process, said Tuesday that the elections were tainted by " no fraud ".
" We would like to show the Zimbabwean people that we in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will not steal the choice " of voters, badured President Priscilla Chigumba. " Whatever our results, they will accurately reflect " what the people " decided ," she said.
President Mnangagwa, anxious to stand out from his former mentor Robert Mugabe, promised "free and fair" elections while the polls of the past two decades have been tainted by violence and fraud. .
– " Greedy for Change " –
As proof of his good will, he had invited, for the first time in sixteen years, Western observers to oversee the electoral process.
In the field, Mr. Mnangagwa, former vice president and minister of Mr. Mugabe, promised a " new Zimbabwe " and the revival of the economy, on the brink of bankruptcy.
In front of the banks, the long lines of customers looking for a little liquid are daily for years. Graduates come every day to join the ranks of the unemployed, while the unemployment rate is around 90%.
million. Chamisa, without much political experience, made his age his main weapon. During the campaign, this dress-style speaker, always impeccable, seduced a young electorate in search of new blood.
In the streets of Harare, residents worried Tuesday about the reactions of the ruling party in case of defeat.
" It is impossible for Zanu-PF to accept " the victory of the MDC, estimated Tracy Kubara, a 26-year-old trader.
" The MDC will not accept " not if he loses, she added, however, to AFP, predicting that " people will surely come down to the street because they are eager for change ".
Since independence, Zimbabwe has had only two heads of state, both from the same party, Zanu-PF. First Mugabe, forced to resign in November at the age of 93, then Mr. Mnangagwa, who took his revenge after being sacked a few weeks earlier from his position as vice president.
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