What to Expect From Zimbabwe's First Vote Post-Mugabe

For the first time since white minority rule ended in 1980, Zimbabweans have voted in an election that didn’t feature Robert Mugabe on the ballot paper. After driving the southern African nation to economic ruin, Mugabe was forced to quit in November when the military briefly seized power and the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, threatened to impeach him. His former deputy and successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was among 22 candidates to stand for the presidency on July 30. The only other strong contender was Nelson Chamisa, leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change. While violence and intimidation marred Zimbabwe’s last three elections, this year’s contest has been mostly peaceful. Final results must be released by Aug. 4.

Not according to the opposition. It says controls over the ballot papers were inadequate, dead and underage people were included on the voters’ roll, and the electoral commission is biased in favor of the ruling party. The commission has shrugged off the complaints, saying it’s complied with the law. Mnangagwa had vowed that the election would be credible and invited international observers to monitor the vote for the first time since 2002. Forty-five percent of 2,400 adults surveyed by research company Afrobarometer between June 25 and July 6 said they were concerned incorrect results would be announced, while 44 percent were worried about post-election violence.