[Reportage] Eve of presidential and legislative elections in Zimbabwe

The elections in Zimbabwe are the first since the resignation of former president Robert Mugabe last November. The vote must take place on Monday, July 30th. And yesterday, Saturday, the different parties held their last political rallies. In the capital Harare, the two main movements, the ruling party Zanu PF and the main opposition party, the MDC, each gathered tens of thousands of supporters.

Nearly 30,000 people in the Harare Stadium, supporters of the Zanu PF, t-shirt and cap in party colors, green and yellow. President Emmerson Mnangagwa Promises Change: Fighting Corruption and Reviving the Economy

A message that goes well with the poorest in rural areas on buses chartered by Zanu PF. " This is the best candidate, says a man. While others are fighting for power, he works. He's bringing in companies so that young people can work. I will finally be able to have a job while it's been 4 years since I finished my studies.

" I think Mnangagwa is better than Mugabe, because things were not going well. Since he has been in power, it's better in rural areas. We were given food, blankets. Life is easier "adds a woman.

A few kilometers away, the opposition. Thousands of people came to listen to the new leader of the MDC. " I embody the future " proclaims Nelson Chamisa who has just celebrated his 40th birthday. " My hands are clean ," he tells a crowd of young people, eager for change. " I will vote for Chamisa, testifies one of them, for some time we are promised new jobs. But until now there is nothing. We have educated people who are in distress. Graduates selling on the street. It's not right. We want something new.

On both sides, everyone is confident in the victory of their candidate in Monday's polls.

■ Analysis : The race is tight

According to the latest polls, the two parties would be neck and neck. According to Pedzisai Ruhanya, political scientist at the University of Johannesburg, the opposition could be in the lead.

" There seems to be a growing movement of people who do not necessarily belong to the opposition , but ordinary citizens who want a change and do not want the old regime.

After the departure of Robert Mugabe in 2017, there was an opening of the political space, the people suddenly had more freedom to express their fundamental rights, civic and political. They said to themselves that they did not get Mugabe's departure to end up with the same people in power.

So the general feeling in the country is that if we base ourselves on the voters' vote, there really is the possibility of regime change.

And basically the factor that drives Zimbabweans to want this change is their living conditions. People can not get money, unemployment is high. They send their child to school making important sacrifices. And when their children have finished their studies, they do not get work, and many go into exile, South Africa, or Europe.

So there is a widespread feeling that the Mugabe regime must be the last authoritarian government in this country. "