More than 6.6 million Zimbabweans are expected to vote in council, parliamentary and presidential elections tomorrow, featuring 11 presidential hopefuls, including incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Some Zimbabweans living in the diaspora are skeptical about the outcome of the polls.
Nhlanhla Moses Ncube, a Zimbabwean working at a private school in Johannesburg, is among thousands of people who won't vote this year. Ncube, secretary general of a political outfit, Freedom Alliance, envies those who will vote. But he is skeptical about the outcome of the crucial elections. Ncube has an unpalatable election outcome prediction for the opposition.
"I foresee a situation where by the status quo remains especially in the sense of parliamentary elections where ZANU is posed to take the rural vote as always, a combination of factors coming in. The fact that they have a structure, the fact that they have resources, and even candidates, the fact that their candidates can be voted for. For example, Mthuli Ncube, a big guy in Cowdray Park, and that can give ZANU PF an advantage.”
But he is quick to warn ZANU PF about its presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe in a defacto military coup, and was declared by the Electoral Court as winner of the disputed 2018 presidential poll.
“Mnangagwa is not generally a popular person that people can vote for. That can be an advantage but the narrow margin can lead to some kind of rigging, because the margin can be very, very narrow."
Professor Ricky Mukonza, a Zimbabwean a lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology, says ZANU PF and the Citizens Coalition for Change are front runners in the 2023 general elections
“These two parties have been attracting supporters and, you know, potential voters to come and attend their rallies in big numbers. ZEC which is the organization that runs the elections in Zimbabwe is accused of many, you know, irregularities including not providing the voters’ roll in the form that opposition political want it. So, there are complaints about ZEC and that has a bearing on the credibility of the elections.”
Victress Mathuthu of Zim Imbokodo, a women’s empowerment group, is another Zimbabwean based in South Africa. She says Zimbabweans should go out and vote in large numbers.
“Vote in peace, vote wisely and vote for a person of your choice. Choose your own councilor, your own parliamentarian and your own president.”
In Zimbabwe, indications are that the electoral body is in the process of finalizing the setting up of 12,370 polling stations in anticipation of over 6.6 million voters.
Kudakwashe Munsaka is a member of the dreaded Forever Associates Zimbabwe political outfit, which supports Zanu PF. Munsaka, who is also a Zanu PF activist, says Mnangagwa is the people’s favorite.
“I can tell you that our president Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has been in all provinces addressing huge gatherings where people are coming willingly, peacefully. So, this has been exciting.”
Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change’s Matabeleland South regional youth leader, Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa, says victory is certain for Chamisa.
“People are hopeful, people are optimistic, the mood is electrifying even if here and there Zanu PF has been trying to disturb our movements, has been trying to put a lot of fear in most of our citizens.”
Elisabeth Valerio of the United Zimbabwe Alliance is a courageous woman, taking head-on 10 men in the presidential poll.
“I’m the only presidential candidate who fully understands the needs of the people because I’m a woman, l'm a mother.”
State security agents have already voted in camps and barracks where they were allegedly forced to vote for the ruling party. ZEC said they conducted the process in accordance with the law. ZANU PF has distanced itself from the early voting process.