Zimbabwe: Elections announced for July /update 2

Event

Presidential and parliamentary elections will take place in July, according to an announcement by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. These elections, the specific date for which has not yet been set, will be the first to be held since Robert Mugabe stepped down in November 2017 after 37 years in power. Mnangagwa has invited all political parties to a roundtable to commit to a non-violent electoral process and invited Western observers to oversee the elections.

Protests, rallies, and other political events related to the elections are likely, particularly in Harare, in the coming weeks and months.

Context

The inauguration of former Vice President Mnangagwa as interim president took place in the capital Harare on November 24, 2017. Mnangagwa was appointed as the country's interim president following former President Robert Mugabe's resignation on November 21.

Mugabe resigned after the parliament launched impeachment proceedings against him; he had initially refused to step down despite intense pressure from the ruling ZANU-PF party and the military after nearly a week of political uncertainty. The political crisis was sparked when Mugabe fired Mnangagwa on November 6, widely seen as clearing the way for his wife, Grace, to take over the position and eventually the presidency. On November 15, Zimbabwe's military took control of the government but denied that the takeover amounted to a "coup."

Advice

Individuals in Zimbabwe, particularly in Harare, are advised to avoid large public gatherings, even those expected to remain peaceful, and to monitor local developments.