The opposition party announced on Thursday that Nelson Chamisa, a 45-year-old lawyer and pastor, will be Emmerson Mnangagwa’s official rival for the second time in a crucial election.
The presidential and legislative elections have not yet been scheduled, but they are anticipated to take place in August.
In an uncontested vote, Chamisa was re-elected as the opposition party’s presidential candidate, according to an independent committee.
According to the committee’s spokesperson Shepherd Ngandu, “Chamisa has been nominated as the presidential candidate by all streets and villages” during a press conference in Harare.
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the opposition, which has accused the president of repressing political opponents, is up against it.
The police and the ruling party have blocked some of the CCC’s campaigns.
Additionally, numerous high-ranking members of the opposition party have been detained.
Last week, Chamisa used Twitter to criticize the government for “weaponizing the law” and for imprisoning fiery CCC lawmaker Job Sikhala, who has been housed in a maximum security facility since June, without due process.
Along with him, the party spokeswoman Fadzayi Mahere was taken into custody; she was found guilty last week of publishing false information.
Mahere’s conviction, according to Chamisa, “evidence of the increasing attacks on democratic forces in Zimbabwe,” which he said needed “fixing,” he claimed on Twitter.
After a military-backed coup, Mnangagwa, also known as “the Crocodile” for his ruthless cunning, succeeded Robert Mugabe as the country’s strongman leader in 2017.
As he works to alleviate entrenched poverty, end frequent power outages, and ease economic hardship, he is met with widespread discontent.
Mnangagwa narrowly prevailed in the historic election in their first meeting in 2018 with 50.8 percent of the vote.
