Zimbabwe will hold its next general election on August 23, President Emmerson Mnangagwa stated.
"Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as aforesaid, I do, by this proclamation....fix the 23rd day of August, 2023, as the day of the election to the office of President, the election of members of the National Assembly and election of councilors," the president's proclamation read.
The presidency also announced that a second round of presidential voting would be held on October 2, if necessary. To avoid a run-off, a presidential candidate must win 50% plus one vote.
Mnangagwa added that nomination courts would vet aspiring presidential, parliamentary and local government poll candidates on June 21.
Incumbent President Mnangagwa has already been endorsed by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) to seek second term as leader of the southern African nation.
The 80-year-old’s main challenger is lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, who leads the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
According to the pan-African research network Afrobarometr's February survey, the opposition enjoyed a four-point advantage (48%) over the ruling Zanu PF (44%) in voting preferences.
Mnangagwa and Chamisa also competed in the presidential election in 2018, then, a year after the coup and overthrow of Robert Mugabe, the ZANU-PF leader managed to win with 51.4% of the vote against 45% of Chamisa.