Zimbabwe election: Observers note voter intimidation, citizens await results

author: FutureCar Staff    

Zimbabweans are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the country's general election. Dozens of armed police with water cannons are guarding the national results centre, which was the site of deadly violence during the previous vote five years ago.

African election observer missions have criticized this week's balloting, alleging voter intimidation by a group linked to the ruling Zanu-PF party. Zimbabwe authorities have also taken local election monitors to court on allegations of subversion, which government critics believe are trumped-up charges.

Early results from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission suggest that Zanu-PF is winning in rural areas, while the Citizens Coalition for Change is gaining support in major urban areas. Results for the presidential election are not expected for several days.

Zimbabwe has a history of disputed elections, leading many to be skeptical of official results. Voting closed on Thursday after delays in distributing ballot papers in urban areas prompted President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend voting by a day. Many voters slept outside polling stations in opposition strongholds to cast their ballots.

Mnangagwa, seeking a second term, faces a significant challenge from Nelson Chamisa, whom he narrowly defeated in the disputed 2018 election. This is the second general election since former ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted in a coup in 2017. The election is selecting the president, parliament, and council seats nationwide.

Election observer missions from the African Union, Southern African Development Community, and African Union Observer Missions have openly alleged voter intimidation. They have expressed concern over the activities of Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ), a ruling party affiliate organization that allegedly collected personal details of voters at polling stations. The missions have called for these activities to be declared "criminal offenses."

The European Union observer mission and the Carter Centre have also questioned the credibility of the vote, with the Carter Centre stating that it took place in a "restricted political environment." Police have arrested workers from two accredited poll monitoring groups and seized their computers, accusing them of "subversive and criminal activities." However, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have stated that the workers were carrying out their duties as election observers.

The elections have been marred by allegations of violence and intimidation. Opposition parties and human rights groups have accused Mnangagwa of using the police and courts to suppress dissent. Tensions have risen due to a currency crisis, high food prices, a weakened public health system, and a lack of formal jobs.

Both Zanu-PF and the Citizens Coalition for Change claim to be heading for victory. The elections body has urged patience as official results are awaited. The situation has remained calm in the capital, with no major unrest reported elsewhere in the country. However, security forces are on guard at the results centre, as there were protests and violence after the last elections.

FutureCar Staff