Ballot counting began at some polling units after voting closed on Wednesday, but in some suburbs of Harare, such as Glen Norah and Kuwadzana, voting had yet to begin as of 7 pm (17:00 GMT), which was when the polls were meant to have officially closed. In several towns and rural areas in the eastern province of Manicaland, voting will also occur on Thursday. Many stations in the two biggest cities, Harare and Bulawayo, permitted voting into the early hours of Thursday even as some people left the polling units out of frustration at being unable to vote
The election has been described as “shambolic,” with the electoral body accused of conspiring with the ruling party to “disenfranchise” opposition voters. Activists have also been arrested, raising concerns about the credibility of the election. The first constituency results emerged on Thursday after delays forced a second day of voting in a small number of wards
Zimbabweans are hoping for a peaceful and fair election, following the 2017 coup that led to the exit of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe. The election is seen as a crucial test for the country’s democracy and economic future