Zimbabwe election results: When will Zimbabwe election results be announced?
ZIMBABWE elections are well underway with the highest voter turnout following former President Mugabe's ousting from office. When will the Zimbabwe election results be announced?
Zimbabwe election: Vote counting underway
Voter turnout for Zimbabwe’s latest elections has been massive, with long lines of voters queueing for the polls before they close.
Since the removal of Mugabe from office, the Zimbabwe public has been eager to have their say in who is next to lead the country.
Voter turnout has so far been estimated at 75 to 80 percent.
While the election commission is yet to release a figure, more than five million people have reportedly signed up to vote.
When will the election results be announced?
Zimbabwe’s vote-counting process will be more drawn out than other countries and the process will take almost a week.
Official results of the voting will be released this Saturday on August 4, but a likely winner could be known as early as July 2.
If a candidate is unable to secure over a 50 percent majority in the vote counts, a presidential ‘runoff’ will be held a month later on September 8.
The runoff will see only two candidates from a first round of voting progress to a one-on-one voting battle for the majority.
Vote counting for Zimbabwe officially began when polls closed at 7pm (5pm GMT) today.
The latest vote has been hailed as a game-changer, as the country has a chance to move away from divisions caused by Robert Mugabe.
With the country potentially returning to the international fold, election observers from both the European Union and United States were allowed to monitor progress.
It is believed that one of two candidates will take the top spot as president, either current President Emerson Mnangagwa or Nelson Chamisa.
Robert Mugabe casts his vote in Zimbabwe general election
Who are the election candidates?
A total of 23 candidates are running for the top spot, but Mnangagwa and Chamisa are mainly battling it out.
Incumbent President Emerson Mnangagwa took office after Mugabe was forced out, and seems like a front-runner for keeping his spot.
A close ally of the former president, Emerson Mnangagwa is running for Zanu-PF, Robert Mugabe's own party.
Despite his close links, Mugabe has refused to back Mnangagwa, but has decided to wish him well.
Nelson Chamisa, 40-year-old lawyer and pastor is Mnangagwa’s closest competitor, and is hoping to become Zimbabwe’s youngest leader.
Chamisa has been adamant that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was impeding voting in areas where he has seen strong support, but has no evidence to back up his claims.
"The people's will being negated & undetermined due to these deliberate and unnecessary delays," he said in a tweet.
Credible vote for Zimbabwe is essential, as the country is hoping to exit strong sanctions and secure investment needed to help stem cashflow problems.