Zimbabwe News You Can Trust
By Takudzwa Washaya
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed Wednesday 23 August 2023 as the date for General elections.
In the proclamation, President Mnangagwa also set 2nd of October as the date for the presidential runoff in accordance with section 38(1)(a)(iii) of the Electoral Act.
The Zimbabwean strongman set the nomination court date on the 21st of June 2023.
Initially, Mnangagwa was supposed to announce the election date on Sunday as he had pledged at a weekend (Saturday) rally in Binga but he went silent.
“Tomorrow (Sunday) l will be announcing an election date,” he said.
The delay in proclaiming the date had led other stakeholders such as opposition parties and civic society organizations to accuse the octogenarian of fearing the polls.
This is Mnangagwa’s second election contest as President of the ruling ZANU PF and the country; after he took power in a soft military coup from his late mentor Robert Mugabe. He won his first term as President in 2018 after beating Nelson Chamisa with a slim margin.
Nelson Chamisa, who now leads the main opposition CCC party is Munangagwa’s fiercest rival.
