Zimbabwe election: Chamisa has ‘no doubt of election victory’ top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The first election in Zimbabwe since ex-president Robert Mugabe faced a military coup last year, millions of Zimbabweans visited polling stations throughout the country to cast their vote. There was a 75 percent turnout at the election, with fierce competition between the two top competitors. These are incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa for the Zanu-PF party and Nelson Chamisa leader of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance. While results will not be officially announced until this weekend, bold claims from one of the parties have predicted the winner. Who will win the Zimbabwe elections this week? Mr Chamisa of the MDC Alliance has taken to social media to proclaim his party were “winning resoundingly”. Writing on Twitter he said: “We’ve done exceedingly well. “Awaiting ZEC (Zimbabwean Electoral Commission) to perform their constitutional duty to officially announce the people’s election results and we are ready to form the next gvt.” Emmerson Mnangagwa is the current president and hopes to retain his title However, neither the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission or election officials have substantiated Mr Chamisa’s claim. Mr Chamisa does have the support of former president Mugabe, however, as the overthrown president denounced his former party. “I cannot vote for those who tormented me,” Mr Mugabe said. "I hope the choice of voting tomorrow will thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality.” Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is confident of victory Officials took to counting ballots by candlelight as night fell However, this caused current president Mnangagwa to claim Mr Mugabe had made a deal with the MDC. "It is clear to all that Chamisa has forged a deal with Mugabe, we can no longer believe that his intentions are to transform Zimbabwe and rebuild our nation," he said. Both candidates have claimed they will fix Zimbabwe’s economy, with Mr Chamisa pledging to bring the Olympics to the country. Should Mr Chamisa win, he will be Zimbabwe’s youngest president at the age of 40. Zimbabwe election: Polls open in first vote since Mugabe's removal Mon, July 30, 2018 The election pits President Emmerson Mnangagwa against MDC’s Nelson Chamisa Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 19 Zimbabwe's opposition leader Nelson Chamisa (C) casts his vote at a Harare polling station<doc-sep>Zimbabwe election: Vote counting underway top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Millions of Zimbabweans queued for hours to cast their vote yesterday in what was said to be an incredibly high turnout of voters. This is the first election for the former British colony since long-time ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted in a military coup last year. The main contenders to take the presidency are incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa, of Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance. Final results are not expected until much later in the week, possibly as late as the weekend, but counting went on all throughout the night and the electoral commission is expected to start announcing results at 3pm local time today (2pm BST). Who is winning? Mr Chamisa this morning said he was “winning resoundingly” from results across some 10,000 polling stations. On Twitter, he wrote: “We’ve done exceedingly well. “Awaiting ZEC (Zimbabwean Electoral Commission) to perform their constitutional duty to officially announce the people’s election results and we are ready to form the next gvt.” Mr Chamisa’s claim has yet to be supported by the electoral commission or election officials. Zimbabwe election results 2018: This is the first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted This is a historic, watershed moment for Zimbabwe. After 37 years under repressive rule, with a leader riddled with allegations of corruption and war crimes, young Zimbabweans are excited for an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights. Whoever wins this election will have a mighty task on his hands: To resuscitate the entirely failed economy and turn the country’s international pariah status around will be no easy feat. And the two opponents couldn’t be more different. Zimbabwe election results 2018: Millions of Zimbabweans queued for hours to cast their vote Mr Mnangagwa, 75, was a long-serving Mugabe aide and has been nicknamed ’The Crocodile’ for his political cunning. He took over as president after Mr Mugabe was forced to resign after the military coup. Since then, he has survived a number of assassination attempts, which he blames on supporters of Mr Mugabe. He has pledged to boost the economy, woo foreign investors and create jobs, and offers the country continuity by remaining under Zanu-PF rule. Zimbabwe election results 2018: Counting went on all throughout the night. However, Mr Mnangagwa is associated with some of the worst atrocities committed under his former boss, including heavy involvement in he country’s 1980s civil conflict which saw thousands of people massacred. Mr Chamisa, 40, is a lawyer and pastor with minimal political experience. His only experience of power was a stint as a minister in a coalition government a few years ago. What he has to offer is something most young Zimbabweans seem to be calling for: a radical change. And of the 5.5 million who registered to vote, about half of those were under 35. Zimbabwe election results 2018: Mr Chamisa's tweet this morning<doc-sep>Zimbabwe stadium rocked by blast after Mnangagwa speech top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. During a surprise press conference on Sunday, former dictator Robert Mugabe backed his former rivals Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. Mr Mugabe, who was forced out of power last November, vowed to support MDC’s Nelson Chamisa, 40, instead of his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party successor Emmerson Mnangagwa. He said: "I hope the choice of voting tomorrow will throw, thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality. "I said I can't vote for those who have caused me to be in this situation ... so there is Chamisa left." Mr Mugabe added he would congratulate whichever party wins. Who will win Zimbabwe election? Mr Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF party is predicted to scrape a win, according to the latest polls, although these are not wholly reliable. The winning candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off in September. Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as President of Zimbabwe Fri, November 24, 2017 Zimbabwe's ousted vice president was set to be sworn in as president on November 24, 2017, marking the final chapter of a political drama that toppled his predecessor after a military takeover Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 12 Soldiers salute at Emmerson Mnangagwa's presidential inauguration in Harare, Zimbabwe But the return of Mr Mugabe to the spotlight has undoubtedly given a last-minute boost to MDC. Lawyer and pastor Mr Chaimsa, who is running as the country’s youngest ever presidential candidate, has been in charge of the party since February 2017. He took over from long-term leader Morgan Tsvangirai, a fierce and vocal critic of Robert Mugabe’s, who died in the same month aged 65 from colon cancer. Mr Charisma has accused the incumbent party of dirty tactics as well as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of bias towards ZANU-PF. Zimbabwe election 2018 polls: Will Emmerson Mnangagwa or Nelson Chamisa be the next president? How many parties are running? A total of 23 candidates across 55 parties are running for the Zimbabwean presidency on Monday. The results have been opened up to observers from the United States, European Union, the Commonwealth and foreign media for the first time. Opposition parties have also been allowed freedom for the first time, having been stifled under Mr Mugabe’s rule for several years. Zimbabwe election 2018 polls: The country's former president Robert Mugabe is backing MDC Zimbabwe election 2018 polls: A school is taken over as a polling station by officials<doc-sep>Zimbabwe election: Chamisa has ‘no doubt of election victory’ top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Counting is currently underway as polls have now closed in Zimbabwe’s election. The elections have been dubbed by some foreign observers as the chance for Zimbabwe to finally break away from its repressive past. Voter turnout was 75 per cent. The results are expected to be officially announced within five days of last weekend's election with the first regional results expected within hours. The election is expected to be a close call between Emmerson Mnangagwa for the ruling Zanu-PF and Nelson Chamisa for MDC Alliance. Both leaders are running for president for the first time. Could the opposition party win? Opinion polls have given Mnangagwa a narrow lead over the opposition. Zimbabwe election results: Voters have taken to the polls for the first time since Mugabe was ousted However, crowds cheered and chanted “Chamisa” when he cast his ballot for the MDC Alliance on the outskirts of Harare. He later told the BBC: “We will win this election to the extent it’s free and fair… it’s a done deal.” Mnangagwa has also said he is confident of victory. Who is Nelson Chamisa? Zimbabwe election results: MDC supporters celebrate before the results are announced Zimbabwe election results: Supporters of Zimbabwean opposition MDC Alliance party leader celebrate Chamisa could be on course to being the youngest president at the age of 40. He became an MP at the age of 25, then a cabinet minister at 31. Chamisa also recently qualified as a pastor and has been using the hashtag #GodIsInIt as part of his campaign. He has promised to focus on building the country’s economy. Zimbabwe election results: Chamisa is confident his party will win However, he has even criticised for making big promises, including introducing a high-speed bullet train and bringing the Olympics to Zimbabwe. Chamisa also had his skull fractured when he was beaten up by state security agents in 2007. He is competing against Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also known as “the Crocodile” due to his political shrewdness. He is believed to be 75-years-old and has promised to deliver jobs, as well as look into economic reforms. Zimbabwe election in pictures: MDC supporters celebrate despite no result Tue, July 31, 2018 Zimbabweans went to the polls yesterday to vote for a new president in the first election since Robert Mugabe, who led the country for 37 years Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 10 Supporters of Zimbabwean opposition MDC Alliance party leader Nelson Chamisa hold his campaign posters<doc-sep>
Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa urges public NOT to vote for Chamisa Zimbabweans hope this watershed vote will serve to breathe life back into the economy and improve the country’s global standing. The country’s founding president Robert Mugabe was ousted in a military coup last year, after a four-decade repressive rule riddled with corruption, diplomatic isolation and accusations of war crimes. Once one of Africa’s most promising economies, Zimbabwe was plunged into crisis which resulted in unprecedented poverty across the nation. The main contenders in today’s election are current president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over after the coup, and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. Polls give Mr Mnangagwa, and his ruling Zanu-PF party, a narrow lead over Mr Chamisa’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance. Mr Mnangagwa is nicknamed ‘The Crocodile’ for his political cunning and is hoping for the election to legitimise his hold on power. Mr Chamisa, 40, could become Zimbabwe’s youngest ever president if elected. Former president Mr Mugabe, 94, during a surprise press conference on Sunday, indicated support for Mr Chamisa rather than back the man who ousted him. Zimbabwe election 2018: The main contenders, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa He said: "I cannot vote for those who tormented me. ”I hope the choice of voting tomorrow will thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality.” Mr Chamisa, a pastor who became an MP at 25, has promised to rebuild Zimbabwe’s failed economy. However, he has been criticised for making unrealistic promises, such as the introduction of a high-speed bullet train and bringing the Olympics to Zimbabwe. Mr Mnangagwa has responded to Mr Mugabe’s support of the opposition, saying: "It is clear to all that Chamisa has forged a deal with Mugabe, we can no longer believe that his intentions are to transform Zimbabwe and rebuild our nation.” Mr Mnangagwa has survived numerous assassination attempts since coming to power, which he blames on supporters of Mr Mugabe. Zimbabwe election 2018: This is the first election since long-time president Mugabe was ousted Zimbabwe election 2018: Long lines of voters have gathered outside polling stations He has pledged to boost the economy, woo foreign investors and create jobs. However, Mr Mnangagwa is associated with some of the worst atrocities committed under his former boss, Mr Mugabe, during his time at the helm of Zanu-PF. He was heavily involved in the country’s 1980s civil conflict, in which thousands of civilians were slaughtered, though he denies any involvement in the massacres. About 5.5 million people have registered to vote today and almost half of those are under 35. Long lines of voters have gathered outside polling stations in the cities as well as rural areas. Zimbabwe election: Polls open in first vote since Mugabe's removal Mon, July 30, 2018 The election pits President Emmerson Mnangagwa against MDC’s Nelson Chamisa Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 19 Zimbabwe's opposition leader Nelson Chamisa (C) casts his vote at a Harare polling station