Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa sets election date as Aug. 23

By FARAI MUTSAKA
Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced that national elections will take place on Aug. 23. The vote is expected to be a another closely watched affair in a country with a history of violent and disputed elections. Wednesday’s announcement through a government gazette also set Oct. 2 for a runoff vote if required. Opposition parties have already made allegations of violence and intimidation against their supporters in the runup to the elections and human rights groups have said Mnangagwa is silencing criticism. The southern African nation has only had two leaders since it gained independence from white minority rule in 1980.