Voting operations began in calm Monday in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans will go to the polls today for the first post-Mugabe general elections.
These elections are coupled: presidential, parliamentary and local.
This electoral test mobilized important observers including those of the European Union and the African Union.
It has been 16 years since EU and US observers were allowed to monitor elections in the country.
The previous elections have been marked by violence and intimidation, but the Zimbabwean government wants to show the world that the first post-Mugabe poll will be different.
Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa, one of the 23 presidential candidates, tweeted a message of peace as the country goes to the polls.
On Election Day, let us vote with peace in our hearts. Let us be respectful, tolerant and love one another. Let us remember that no matter who we support, we are all brothers and sisters
We are one people, with one dream and one destiny
We will sink or swim together pic.twitter.com/y8lWs3IMoW
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) July 30, 2018
But the opposition alliance (MDC) suspects that the vote could be rigged, as has been the case in the past.
The key figures of the elections:
23 candidates are on the presidential bulletin
55 parties contest the parliamentary vote
43.5% of registered voters are under 35
10,985 polling stations
