Countdown begins after the close of elections in crucial elections in Zimbabwe

The polling stations in Zimbabwe closed after the first election of the country without a vote. former leader Robert Mugabe on the ballot, and election officials ready to start counting.

The electoral commission announced that it would announce the final results within five days.

Earlier, the main opposition leader said the delay in voting was a "deliberate attempt" to undermine his supporters.

The charges brought by Nelson Chamisa, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, intensified concerns over the management of elections and the prospect of a dispute over their outcome.

Today, Zimbabwe has had a beautiful expression of freedom and democracy. In our millions, we voted in the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and peace.

Until the results arrive, remember that only the ZEC is constitutionally mandated to announce any form of results

– President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) July 30, 2018

President Emmerson Mnangagwa , former vice president, has promised a credible vote that, he hopes, will bring international legitimacy and investment. A seriously flawed process could signal more stagnation.

Mugabe, 94, has ruled Zimbabwe since his independence in 1980 until his resignation in November, and many people are worried about the change.

million. Chamisa worries about delays in polling stations in urban areas. The ruling Zanu-PF party has dominated many rural areas in past elections marked by violence and irregularities.

The victory is ours! Long and winding waiting lines in most parts of Harare. There seems to be a deliberate attempt to suppress urban voting. Good result, but the people will be canceled and undetermined because of these deliberate and unnecessary delays. We are in #Godisinit

– Nelson Chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) July 30, 2018

seems to be a deliberate attempt to repress and frustrate "urban voters through" unnecessary delays ", said Mr. Chamisa on Twitter He acknowledged that there was a "good turnout".

Long lines of waiting had formed outside many of polling stations in the capital Harare and elsewhere at the beginning of 7 am Anyone remaining online at the closing time of 7pm could still vote, although opposition parties feared that their supporters could walk away if they were forced to wait for hours in the open air without food or drink

but they worry about prejudice in the state media. , the lack of transparency in the printing of ballots and reports of intimidation traditional pro-government leaders who are expected to remain neutral

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, accused of Having won technical failures for Mr Mugabe in the past, said the vote would be free and fair.

we need everyone to be comfortable going out and exercising their right to vote without fear, "said Priscilla Chigumba, a judge who chairs the commission.

She was expressed confidence that the vote in most of the country's 11,000 polling stations would be completed by the time of closure

About 5.5 million people were registered to vote in an election considered by many as an opportunity to surpbad decades of political and economic paralysis.

More than 20 presidential candidates and nearly 130 political parties participated, and if no presidential candidate wins 50% of the vote, a second round will take place on September 8.

The two main candidates are Mr. Mnangagwa, 75, who took over at that Mr. Mugabe resigned the pressure of the party last year, and Mr. Chamisa, 40, lawyer and pastor became head of the main opposition party a few months after the death of his leader , Morgan Tsvangirai.

After the vote, Mr. Mnangagwa said that the election was peaceful and he was engaged in a Zimbabwe where people have the "freedom to express their opinions, negative or positive".

Whistles and cheers greeted Mr. Chamisa as he was voting outside of Harare. He said he hoped that voting in rural areas, where most Zimbabwean voters are and where the ruling party generally reigns, would be fair.