Zimbabwe Votes in Hope of Reviving a Tattered Economy

Gabriele Steinhauser

The Wall Street Journal

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July 30, 2018 4:01 a.m. ET

HARARE, Zimbabwe—Zimbabweans lined up Monday to vote in a tight election that many hope will be the first step toward healing an economy battered during the 37-year rule of ousted strongman Robert Mugabe.

Both leading candidates—President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former Mugabe ally who was installed by the military in November, and the opposition’s Nelson Chamisa —staked their campaigns on bringing in foreign investment and creating jobs.

An early July poll gave Mr. Mnangagwa a 3-percentage-point lead over Mr. Chamisa, but cautioned that, with 20% of the electorate still undecided or unwilling to share their choice, an opposition victory in the first round was possible. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held in September.

“It’s my first time voting,” said Divine Charwadza, who was about to cast his ballot at a polling station in the capital, Harare. “We’re just hoping that [the election] will be free and fair.”

A 25-year-old banking and finance graduate, Mr. Charwadza said he hasn’t been able to find a job since finishing university last year and was counting on the opposition to turn things around. Zimbabwe has been governed by the same party, Messers. Mugabe and Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF, since gaining independence from Britain in 1980.

“I will definitely vote for Chamisa. It’s all about change,” Mr. Charwadza said. “Zimbabwe has been suffering for about 38 years. It’s time for something new.”

In November, Zimbabweans took to the streets to celebrate the military intervention that removed the 94-year-old Mr. Mugabe and installed his former deputy, Mr. Mnangagwa as president.

But since then, few have seen improvements to their daily lives.

Unions say at least eight out of 10 Zimbabweans are unemployed. The public-sector payroll eats up as much as 90% of government revenue and banks have limited withdrawals of U.S. dollars, the dominant currency since the Zimbabwean dollar was abolished in 2009 following years of hyperinflation. Last year, the government ran a budget deficit of 14% of gross domestic product.

The finance ministry says Zimbabwe urgently needs a bailout from the International Monetary Fund, but foreign governments, including the U.S. and the European Union, have made a democratic election a central condition for even considering aid.

The EU and the U.S., for first time since 2002, have sent election observers to monitor Monday’s vote.

Despite their presence, many Zimbabweans are worried that the incorrect election result will be announced or that the army could intervene to prevent the opposition from taking power if ZANU-PF loses. Elections in 2008 and 2013 were marred by allegations of widespread rigging and violent repression of opposition supporters.

Mr. Chamisa, who at 40 is the youngest-ever contender for Zimbabwe’s presidency, has garnered support among young and urban voters. His Movement for Democratic Change had a 23-point lead over ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe’s cities.

But many older Zimbabweans and those living in rural areas are still attached to the ruling party. In rural Zimbabwe, where about 63% of people live, ZANU-PF was polling 18 points ahead of the MDC.

“I voted for Mnangagwa. I’m giving him a chance,” said a 59-year-old man who declined to give his name, after casting his ballot in Harare. “He’s done a very good job.”

Write to Gabriele Steinhauser at gabriele.steinhauser@wsj.com

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