Tight Zimbabwe election sets social media abuzz

by DANAI MWARUMBA
HARARE, (CAJ News) – ZIMBABWE’S historic polls have dominated social media in recent days and the trend is expected to continue this week as the nation keenly awaits the outcome.

The polls, the first to be held without the participation of ousted leader, Robert Mugabe, have been a topical issue globally.

Social media such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and WeChat have been on a frenzy ahead of and during the contest that has the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance as the frontrunners.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the incumbent, and Nelson Chamisa, respectively, lead the two parties.

Mugabe sparked a storm on social media after he announced he would not vote for ZANU-PF, months after he was sacked from the party alongside his ambitious wife, Grace.

The veteran politician instead backed the opposition.

Even churches came to a standstill as congregants discussed the favourite to win the presidential poll.

“Even church WhatsApp groups temporarily suspended preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Raviro Mudarikwa, a technology expert in Harare.

“Instead, discussions over who between Chamisa and Mnangagwa would emerge victorious took over,” Mudarikwa said.

Results were expected to trickle in on Tuesday but the announcement day could not be ascertained.

In his tweet on Monday, Mnangagwa said: “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.”

The controversial Baba Jukwa tweetted: “In America, George Bush was so bad that God gave them Barrack Obama. In Zimbabwe, Mugabe was so bad that God gave us Nelson Chamisa.”

Another jester tweeted, “Greetings fellow Cdes, our incoming Zimbabwean President, Nelson Chamisa has cast his Vote. Lets follow suit.”

– CAJ News