Welcome to Africanews

Please select your experience

Watch Live

News

news

Zimbabwe to hold general election on August 23rd

Zimbabweans wait in a queue to cast their vote during a referendum in Harare, Zimbabwe, Saturday, March, 16, 2013   -  
Copyright © africanews
Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August  23rd, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Wednesday, as the southern African country continues to battle a raging economic crisis.

Mnangagwa, elected president in 2018, will be seeking a second term in office. His election followed a military coup that deposed Robert Mugabe in 2017.

The 80-year-old's main rival is lawyer and pastor is 45-year old Nelson Chamisawho leads the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The opposition accuses the party in power, Zanu-PF, of repression against political opponents.

On Tuesday, Chamisa accused President Mnangagwa of being vague about the dates of the election.

The Zanu-PF party has been in power in Zimbabwe since the country's independence in 1980.

View more