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HARARE : Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who was overthrown by the army in November, made a surprise intervention Sunday on the eve of key elections, calling on voters to resign his old party.
At his first live appearance since he was forced to resign by his generals, Mugabe, 94, spoke slowly but sounded healthy sitting in a pagoda on the grounds of "Blue Roof" ", His sprawling mansion in Harare
The choice or vote that will be made tomorrow […] will push back the military form of government and bring us back to constitutionality. "
In the first elections of the country since Mugabe was ousted after 37 years in power, Zimbabwe goes to the polls Monday amid allegations of election fraud and predictions of a disputed outcome.
President Mnangagwa, Mugabe's former ally in the ruling ZANU-PF party, faces opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in Zimbabwe's generals shocked the world last year when they took control and brought Mnangagwa into power after Mugabe tried to position his wife Grace, 53, to succeed him.
I can not vote for those who tormented me ", Mugabe said, hinting that he could vote for the MDC. "I can not vote for ZANU-PF … what's left, I think it's just Chamisa."
"It was a complete coup d'etat," Mugabe said of his dethronement, adding that he was "complete." nonsense "that he wanted Grace to be his successor."
Grace posed for photos next to her husband after her two-hour press conference.
Close race?
Mnangagwa, 75, who promises a fresh start for the country despite being part of the ZANU-PF elite, is on the front line with the advantage of A discreet military support, a loyal public media and a ruling party that controls government resources. "Chamisa, 40, who has performed a lot on the election campaign, hopes to tap into a population young person who could vote for change.
The election is Zimbabwe's first without Mugabe, which led ZANU-PF to power in one vote. became independent of British colonial rule in 1980.
"If Mugabe is able to go to my inauguration it is good news," Cham "J It has nothing to do with what President Mugabe would like to say as a voter. "
The elections under Mugabe's authoritarian regime were often marked by fraud and violence, and the This year's campaign The MDC has repeatedly raised allegations of voter list irregularities, ballots, voter intimidation and stigmatization within the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
International Observers
The campaigns have been relatively free and peaceful compared to previous elections, and some analysts point out that the pressure to vote is credible line under the international isolation of the Mugabe era
The poll in Zimbabwe is uncertain, but a recent poll Afrobarometer of 2,400 people put Mnangagwa on 40% and Chamisa on 37%, with 20% d & # 39; # 39; undecided.
Mnangagwa, accused of involvement in election violence and fraud under Mugabe, vowed to hold a fair vote and invited international observers – including the team from the European Union previously prohibited.
"After years of stagnation, the events of November 2017 gave Zimbabwe the opportunity to" We have always said that elections would be free, non-violent and credible. "
Despite the charge of Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chamisa promised not to boycott the polls, saying his party would still win.
Mnangagwa and Chamisa, the two leading candidates in a group of 23 candidates for the presidency, held large final rallies in Harare Saturday:
With 5.6 million registered voters, the results of presidential, parliamentary and local elections are expected by August 4.
A presidential election is scheduled for September 8th if no candidate wins at least 50% of the votes in the first round – AFP
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