![] Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaks at the handover of a fleet of medical emergency helicopters received from the Russian State Corporation, Rostec, at the Robert Mugabe International airport in Harare, Zimbabwe, May 18, 2023. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo/File photo](https://theafricadailypost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/emerson-860x565.jpg)
HARARE, June 23 – The Zimbabwean presidential race is set to be fiercely contested, with eleven candidates vying for the top office in the upcoming August election. The country’s electoral commission announced the list of contenders after disqualifying several hopefuls who failed to raise the required $20,000 needed to secure a place on the ballot.
Incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, representing the ZANU-PF party, is expected to face strong competition from pastor and lawyer Nelson Chamisa, who leads the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and is regarded as the most formidable challenger.
On Thursday, the electoral commission revealed that eleven candidates had been disqualified from the August 23 election, with a number of them, including Linda Masarira, failing to meet the financial requirement by Wednesday’s deadline. This development dealt a blow to the hopes of having a female candidate contend for the presidency.
Expressing her disappointment, Masarira criticized the exorbitant fee, describing it as discriminatory and in violation of the principle of non-discrimination enshrined in the law. “I have been clear that the $20,000 is exorbitant, it is discriminatory in nature and violates the section that speaks to non-discrimination in the eyes of the law,” she stated.
Zimbabwe is bracing for a crucial election that will determine both the president and the composition of the parliament. While Mnangagwa and Chamisa are widely considered the frontrunners in the race to address the country’s struggling economy, an independent candidate has recently emerged, adding a new dynamic to the electoral landscape.
Saviour Kasukuwere, a former minister in Robert Mugabe’s cabinet who has been in self-imposed exile, has thrown his hat into the ring as an independent candidate. Political analysts suggest that Kasukuwere is expected to attract votes in ZANU-PF strongholds, given his previous ties to the party.
Kasukuwere, who fled the country during the coup that led to Mugabe’s removal, has long harbored presidential aspirations. His entry into the race adds further complexity and competition to an already intense campaign period.
President Mnangagwa, 80, is seeking re-election amidst an ongoing economic collapse, with the Zimbabwean dollar plummeting over 50% against the US dollar in recent weeks. Despite the challenges, Mnangagwa expressed confidence in the democratic process and praised the peaceful nature of the election.
“Countrywide the process is going very well and it shows that Zimbabwe is now a mature democracy. This process is so peaceful, and that is what we want,” Mnangagwa remarked optimistically after submitting his nomination at the High Court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Chamisa, who narrowly lost the previous election in 2018, remains determined to lead his party to victory this time around, signaling a strong desire for change in government leadership.
