Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaks during a handover ceremony where he received medical emergency and police helicopters from Sergey Chemezov the Director General of the Russian State Corporation "Rostec" at the Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare on May 18, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
HARARE — Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday filed his nomination papers to contest as the ruling party's presidential candidate in elections set for Aug 23.
His papers were filed by his election agent and justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
The main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change, confirmed Tuesday that he had pre-submitted his papers
"We are ready for the elections and we just wait to find out who the other contestants are," Ziyambi said.
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Mnangagwa, who is seeking reelection for a second five-year term, is set to launch the ruling ZANU-PF's manifesto and election campaign Saturday in Chipinge, Manicaland province.
The main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change, confirmed Tuesday that he had pre-submitted his papers.
A representative of Saviour Kasukuwere, a former top ZANU-PF official and government minister, told Xinhua by telephone that he had filed Kasukuwere's nomination papers to contest in the upcoming presidential election.
"ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) is still going through the verification process. We hope to know if he (Kasukuwere) is successful anytime from now," the representative said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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Other presidential aspirants in the upcoming general election who have already filed their nomination papers include Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the opposition National Constitutional Alliance; Trust Chikohora of the Zimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development; and Douglas Mwonzora of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party.
More presidential candidates are expected to file their nomination papers by the end of the sitting of nomination courts at 4 pm, local time, Wednesday.
Nomination courts are sitting countrywide Wednesday to accept applications from candidates for presidential, National Assembly and local authorities' elections.
