Zimbabwe's President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has launched his party's campaign for re-election, as he seeks a second term as leader of the nation. The country is currently grappling with the difficult task of managing high inflation and a steeply plunging currency. Speaking at a rally of supporters of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front in Mutema, Mnangagwa predicted he would be victorious in the upcoming elections.
Mnangagwa has pledged to revitalise an economy that has declined by half in size since 2000. This is due to a controversial land redistribution programme, which saw white commercial farmers being stripped of their property by the government. In particular, inflation has been a stubborn problem for the authorities, with prices currently growing at 86.5%. The Zimbabwean dollar has also lost over 80% of its value when compared to the US dollar in 2021 alone.
Despite these challenges though, the country is blessed with significant deposits of gold, coal, and iron ore. Furthermore, Zimbabwe has the largest platinum reserves in the world after South Africa.
"The farms we took are ours and they are not going back," insisted Mnangagwa to the rally-goers. "This country will remain in the hands of the ruling party, ZANU PF. Our party is a colossal revolutionary party. No one will stop us."
Mnangagwa is facing competition from ten other presidential candidates, with his main opposition coming from Nelson Chamisa, who leads the Citizens Coalition for Change. In 2018, Mnangagwa narrowly defeated Chamisa in a highly disputed election whose legitimacy was questioned by the opposition. Since then, the opposition has become increasingly divided amongst themselves.
The elections are scheduled to take place on 23rd August, and if no candidate scores a clear victory, a run-off will be held on 2nd October. Since the end of white minority rule in 1980, Zimbabwe has not experienced a peaceful and democratic political transfer of power.