Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for decades and was forced to resign from power in 2017 after a military takeover.
That takeover eventually ushered into power Mugabe’s former ally, Emmerson Mnangagwa who once served as his deputy.
But since his ousting from power, the former Zimbabwean President has been embittered by how the military backed Mnangagwa to get him out of power.
A day before Zimbabweans vote in a historic election that will take place without Mugabe for the first time, the 94-year old had something to say.
He told reporters at his private residence in the capital Harare that he hoped what he calls the “military government” is voted out of power.
“Let the people go and vote. Let them go and vote freely. We have had now a long list of aspirants – 23 is the number of aspirants. I must say very clearly, I can’t vote for those who have tormented me. No. I will make my choice among the other 22,” Mugabe told reporters.
Mr. Mugabe has always maintained that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government was unconstitutional and ruled by the gun.
Mugabe intended stepping down
The former leader says he planned to resign at the ZANU-PF congress in December last year.
He says his former defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi should have succeeded him and not Mnangagwa.
5 million voters are expected to participate in the voting process to choose a new leader.
75-year-old Mnangagwa of the ruling Zanu-PF is facing the biggest opposition in 40-year-old Chamisa. He is the leader of the opposition MDC party.
Both leaders held their respective rallies in separate venues in Harare, the capital on Saturday.
Poll under threat
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has however warned that the credibility of the poll is under threat.
He told a news conference last Wednesday that the election was threatened by fraud as he accuses the election commission of bias.
Chamisa said the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) was “biased and has lost the confidence of the people of Zimbabwe”.
The United Nations has reported of voter intimidation, threats of violence and coercion ahead of the election.
The global body also reports that people are being forced to attend political rallies especially in rural areas.
Too close to call
A poll released weeks ago also predicted that the results will be too close to call.
An Afrobarometer poll says there will be no clear winner. It said President Mnangagwa is likely to secure 40 percent of voters. His opponent Chamisa is tipped to secure 37 percent of votes.
Zimbabwe election rules provide for a run-off if no presidential candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote. A run-off could be held on September 8.
Zimbabwe politicians hold final rallies ahead of historic poll
Source: Africafeeds.com
