Chipinge (New Ziana) – Tens of thousands of ZANU-PF supporters on Saturday gathered at Mutema High School in Chipinge for the launch by President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the party’s election manifesto for the upcoming polls.

The country will hold combined presidential, parliamentary and local government elections on August 23 to choose new representatives for the next five years.

ZANU-PF, which has been in power since independence in 1980, is seeking to extend its mandate in power against the backdrop of a divided opposition.

By mid-morning, the grounds at Mutema High School had filled up with people, estimated by officials to number around 20 000.

Party officials said they expected more than 30 000 people to attend the manifesto launch, which was postponed last weekend because of other presidential commitments.

President Mnangagwa, widely considered a clear front runner, will battle it out with ten other presidential contenders who successfully registered on Wednesday to run in the elections.

His party has been given a big electoral boost, ahead of the polls, after 53 of its local government candidates were elected unopposed at the close of nominations on Wednesday.
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New Ziana