A Zimbabwean independent electronic newspaper, NewsHawks, reports that President Emmerson Mnangagwa may call a snap election early next year amid fears of losing to the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa.
NewsHawks, which quoted inside sources in the ruling Zanu PF party, reports that Mnangagwa may call for the council, parliamentary, senatorial and presidential elections between March and April instead of in July.
In its report, NewsHawks said throughout their just-ended congress, Zanu PF leaders kept on harping on Chamisa and CCC, showing they consider and fear them as a major threat after what happened in Zambia last year and Lesotho recently when opposition parties unexpectedly swept to power.
The sources also told NewsHawks that the ruling party is expected to conclude its primary elections before the end of the year. The party has already bought new campaign vehicles.
Mnangagwa’s government has locked up outspoken CCC lawmaker Job Sikhala and his colleague Godfrey Sithole for allegedly inciting violence and attempting to defeat the course of justice. They have been denied bail many times.
According to CCC, indications are that Mnangagwa’s government wants to keep the two and 14 other members of the opposition party in jail and release them after the 2023 general elections.
Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa was unavailable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.
Mnangagwa is the ruling party's presidential candidate in 2023.