Harare, Zimbabwe – (African Boulevard News) – The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced on Thursday that eleven candidates will run in the presidential elections scheduled for August this year. The announcement comes amid heightened political tensions in the country, with opposition parties calling for fair and transparent elections.
The list of candidates includes the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling ZANU-PF party and his main rival, Nelson Chamisa, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance. Other candidates include Thokozani Khupe of the MDC-T party, Joseph Busha of the Free Zimbabwe Congress, and many more.
The presidential candidates were required to submit their nomination papers and pay a $1,000 fee to the electoral commission. The ZEC received a total of 23 nomination papers, but 12 were rejected due to irregularities such as missing signatures or incorrect information.
The announcement of the final list of candidates has been met with mixed reactions. Some Zimbabweans have expressed their excitement to have so many options, while others are skeptical about the credibility of the electoral process.
Political analyst, Dr. Pedzisai Ruhanya, noted that the number of candidates is a positive development, but he said: “The challenge is whether the election will be transparent and free from violence. The electoral commission must ensure that there is level playing field for all candidates.”
Meanwhile, the opposition parties have raised concerns about the process of printing ballot papers, which they say is not transparent. They have also called for international observers to monitor the election process to ensure fairness.
The ZEC chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba, assured the public that the electoral commission is committed to holding free and fair elections. She added: “All political parties will participate in these elections on equal footing. The commission will not hesitate to take action against any political party or candidate who perpetrates any form of electoral malpractice or violence.”
With just a few months to go before the elections, all eyes will be on Zimbabwe to see if they will be able to deliver free, fair, and transparent elections.
