- Washington “follows with interest” Morocco’s openness onto Africa (John Kerry)Posted 11 years ago
- The trial of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius opened in Pretoria on Monday.Posted 11 years ago
- USA welcomes efforts of King Mohammed VI in MaliPosted 11 years ago
- Egypt’s population reaches 94 millionPosted 11 years ago
- Mugabe celebrates his 90thPosted 11 years ago
- Moroccan Monarch to Build a Perinatal Clinic in BamakoPosted 11 years ago
- King Mohammed VI handed a donation of bovine semen for the benefit of Malian breeders.Posted 11 years ago
- Moroccan King’s strategic tour to Africa: Strengthening the will of pan African Solidarity and stimulating the south-south cooperation mechanisms over the continentPosted 12 years ago
- Senior al-Qaida leader killed in AlgeriaPosted 12 years ago
- Libya: The trial of former Prime Minister al-Baghdadi AliPosted 12 years ago
Polls open in crunch Zimbabwe elections
Zimbabweans went to the polls on Wednesday to elect a president, parliament members and local councillors.
The presidential voting will largely be a showdown between veteran President Robert Mugabe, who has led the country for the past 33 years, and his long-time archrival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Some 6.4 million voters will also vote for more than 200 members of parliament and thousands of local councillors.
At a polling station at the Alexandra Park Primary School in Harare’s north suburb, hundred of policemen who had failed to cast ballots in early voting queued from 5 a.m. to vote. They were given priority to vote before being deployed to duty.
Civilian voters, some in thick quilts, formed a long throng outside the polling station at 4 a.m. in Harare’s chilly winter morning.
“We need change, we need new ideas,” a voter who identified himself as Edmore told foreign Media. He said he expects the opposition to win because the ruling party has taken long into power.
A polling official, who declined to be named, said the electoral staff worked overnight to prepare for the smooth start of the voting.
Tsvangirai, who won more votes in the first round of voting in the 2008 elections but lost to Mugabe in the disputed second round. The two men have since been forced into a coalition government.
A vote count will immediately commence after polls close. Results for the final presidential vote will be announced within five days. If no candidate wins 50 percent plus one vote, which is required for an outright win, a run-off will be held on September 11.
