HARARE
The first results from Zimbabwe’s election were announced yesterday, following delays that forced a second day of voting in a small number of neighbourhoods.
Fewer than 10 of 210 parliamentary constituencies had results on Thursday, too early to identify any national trend. Voting was extended on Thursday in 40 wards, which represent fewer than 1% of the total 12,374 polling stations.
The cause was late printing of ballots after court challenges, but the electoral commission gave no further details.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 80, who replaced longtime strongman Robert Mugabe after a 2017 coup and won a disputed election in 2018, was seeking a second full term.
The main opposition challenger was the same as last time: Nelson Chamisa, 45, of the Citizens Coalition for Change. Zimbabwe has been beset by economic hardship that has left many citizens dependent on US dollar remittances. Analysts suggest that the electoral playing field was skewed in favour of the ruling ZANU-PF party, which has a history of manipulating elections in its favour.
Police sealed off roads around the election results centre on Friday morning, and members of the public were being stopped for questioning.
Source: Rutters
