By John Ikani
Zimbabwe’s electoral body has granted approval to 11 individuals to participate in the upcoming presidential elections in August.
This decision comes amid protestations by numerous politicians regarding the steep application fees imposed by the electoral commission.
In a significant increase, the registration costs for presidential candidates were raised from $1,000 in the previous elections to $20,000. Similarly, fees for parliamentary positions experienced a substantial hike from $50 to $1,000.
Opposition parties strongly criticized the exorbitant fees, arguing that they have a detrimental impact on democracy, particularly considering that the majority of Zimbabweans earn less than $300 per month.
Scheduled for the 23rd of August, Zimbabwe’s elections will encompass presidential, parliamentary, and council contests. The electoral commission worked tirelessly late into the night to finalize the approval of the 11 candidates.
Among the approved candidates are President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current incumbent, and his primary competitor, Nelson Chamisa. Additionally, an exiled former government minister has declared their intention to run as an independent candidate.
Notably, the number of candidates this year is significantly lower than that of the 2018 elections, as many familiar faces chose not to participate due to the burdensome registration fee.
Zimbabwe currently faces cash shortages and an ongoing economic crisis that has severely impacted earnings, with the majority of citizens earning less than $300.
Regrettably, despite the numerous applicants, no women candidates were granted clearance to contest the elections, marking the first time in years for such an occurrence.
Those who were not approved have a window of four days to file an appeal against the electoral body’s decision.
