Politics: Zimbabwe heads to the poll for its first post-Robert Mugabe elections

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to hold a free and fair election.

• Zimbabweans head to the poll for landmark election without Robert Mugabe.

• President Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to hold a free and fair election.

• Zimbabwe's former president Robert Mugabe is not supporting his successor in the presidential race.

---

Zimbabweans began voting on Monday, July 30, 2018, for the first post-Robert Mugabe election in four decades in the South African country.

Mugabe, the former president, was thrown out of power in a bloodless coup in 2017.

Zimbabweans will be electing a new president, parliamentarians and conduct local elections on the same day.

The leading presidential candidates are:

Emmerson Mnangagwa - ruling Zanu-PF party

 

The 70-year-old revolutionary leader was the country's vice president until November 2017 after he ousted President Robert Mugabe. He is a strong member of the ZANU-PF and longtime ally of the former Zimbabwean leader.

ALSO READ: Here are the least peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Nelson Chamisa - Democratic Change (MDC)

 

40-years old Chamisa leads the opposition. He is Zimbabwe's youngest ever presidential candidate.

Mugabe's appearance

 

Zimbabwe's former president Robert Mugabe in a dramatic intervention and appearance on Sunday, July 29, 2018, rejected his successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and said he will not be voting for him in today's' election.

International observers

President Mnangagwa has vowed to hold a free and fair election and invited international observers, including the previously-banned European Union team.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)

Reports say 5.6 million registered voters will vote in the election and the electoral body is due to announce the results of the presidential, parliamentary and local elections by August 4, 2018.

Also from Business Insider Sub-Sahara Africa:

• Nigerian government raised tax revenue by 42%

• Mark Zuckerberg lost $16.8 billion in 2 hours, more than Aliko Dangote’s net worth

• Twitter has started clamping down on fake followers, here's what you will notice

• You will be surprised at the 19 people Nigeria's Buhari follows on Twitter

• Here's why Nigeria is not in a hurry to sign the continental free trade agreement, according to finance minister Kemi Adeosun

• Nigeria’s online savings platform secures $1.1 million seed funding to develop its products and expand massively

• These 6 banks invested N155.45 billion into the sinking fund in 3 years

• Nigeria approves framework that will see a new price for data