The Story
Zimbabweans are hitting the polls in their first presidential election since Robert Mugabe was pushed out.
Remind me.
Last year, Mugabe – the country's leader for over 30 years – was told to go home. He had fired his VP to give his wife the job. Then he was pushed out by his own party and the military – which took over and put him under house arrest. And it was all downhill from there. He eventually took the hint and stepped down.
Who's on today's ballot?
That VP he fired. His name's Emmerson Mnangagwa and he replaced Mugabe as prez and head of the ruling party. The 75-year-old wants to give the party a rebrand. And he's declared Zimbabwe "open for business." Enter his opponent: Nelson Chamisa. The 40-year-old lawyer and pastor who could reportedly be Africa's youngest head of state. He wants to cut taxes, create jobs, get rid of government corruption, and improve how the country handles foreign investments.
Who is going to win?
Polls show that Mnangagwa has a very slim lead. But his party has been accused of vote rigging in the past. And people are afraid there will be violence once the results are announced. Also, Mugabe's firmly against him. TBD if that matters to anyone. Now if neither candidate gets over 50% of the vote, expect a runoff election in September.
Anything else?
Speaking of possibly rigged elections, Cambodia. The country's prime minister just extended his more-than-three-decade rule. After getting rid of the main opposition party last year. Sounds fair.
theSkimm
The Zimbabwean election is crucial – not only because people are voting for someone other than Mugabe. The country's economy is struggling and it needs a free, fair, and peaceful election if it's trying to attract foreign aid and investment.
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