Zimbabwe to hold elections by July - President Mnangagwa

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the southern African country will hold transparent elections by July and he would respect the result if the opposition wins. 

Mnangagwa, 75, made the comments on Wednesday when he told the World Economic Forum in Davos the nation was “open for business”.

Whichever party wins the election will proceed to take the reins of power, he said.

The election will be the first big test of his legitimacy since he took power in November when the military ousted former long time leader, Robert Mugabe who ruled for 37 years. It will also test the country’s electoral system after complaints of rigging at previous votes.

Mnangagwa, who has been accused of organising the violence which has blighted some of Zimbabwe’s previous elections, will be hoping to get the support of Zimbabweans at the ballot later this year with his renewed focus on boosting the country’s economy.