Farirai Madhumbe | Leading political analyst Dr Ibbo Mandaza has predicted a resounding election victory for MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, only if the elections are free and fair.

The election being fought for the first time in decades has fresh faces contesting after the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe and the death of veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Chamisa has hinted the MDC Alliance might not participate in the elections if for instance the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission does not reveal who is printing ballot papers, among other demands.

Chamisa’s stiffest challenge is from Zanu PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa who is also viewed as a reformist and better candidate to Mugabe.

The local Daily News reports that Mandaza has predicted a Chamisa victory in the elections as long as the polls are held in a free, fair and credible manner.

“Zanu PF is wounded and it’s unlikely to win a free and fair election. The new kid on the block is Chamisa who has captured the imagination of youths, and I see nothing stopping him,” he said.

But University of Zimbabwe political science professor, Eldred Masunungure saw things differently.

“We are dealing with unknown factors. Both Mnangagwa and Chamisa have not really been tested as presidential candidates. Their abilities to attract voters are not known.
“We might have new players, but fundamentally, the playing field has remained the same because they are still operating with their parties.

“I agree with those saying Zanu PF is winning the contest comfortably, although not as resoundingly as in 2013. I would also like to warn that the talk that youths will vote Chamisa is mistaken because the demographics have been gravitating towards Zanu PF.

“So what Chamisa needs is to reverse that trend rather than focus on the lie that the youths seen at his rallies will automatically translate into votes. On the balance, I would say the scales are tipped towards Zanu PF,” Masunungure told the Daily News.