2018年CRI Zimbabwe holds historic election

 

Zimbabwe has held its first general election after the resignation of its former leader Robert Mugabe.

CRI's Gao Junya has details from Zimbabwe.

Long queues have been forming at many of the 10-thousand polling stations across Zimbabwe.

The country's electoral commission says voter turnout has averaged 75 percent, higher than in the last vote in 2013.

Many voters see this election as an opportunity for change.

Tichaona Mufanyana, a voter in Harare's western suburb of Kuwadzana, says current president Emmerson Mnangagwa has brought many changes people had been longing¹ since he took office last November, improving the business climate and creating jobs.

He says changes don't come overnight and Mnangagwa needs a five-year term to bring more positive changes.

"I think if we give him a chance in the next five years, Zimbabwe will never be the same again. He will do what he can."

This year has seen 23 candidates vying² to be Zimbabwe's head of state and Mnangagwa's main rival is Nelson Chamisa, head of the country's largest opposition³ party, Movement for Democratic Change.

The 40-year-old is seen by many supporters as young, and they have high hopes in him to bring the changes they want.

Voter Chiwada says Mnangagwa and Chamisa each have their own advantages and disadvantages and he prefers a coalition⁴ government formed by the two parties.

"So what we are asking now is only the change of the country. If they share, if all of them work together, again we like it a hundred percent. If nothing happen, then we take them all off after five years."

Mnangagwa has been vowing⁵ to bring a free, fair and non-violent election and he has invited hundreds of foreign observers to monitor the election.

While taking an interview after casting his vote, Mnangagwa said the election itself is part of his efforts to brings changes to the country.

"I can assure you that this country is enjoying democratic space it has never experienced before."

94 year-old former president Robert Mugabe has also cast his ballot⁶ accompanied by his wife, Grace.

The voting has closed and the official result is set to be out on Saturday.

There will be a runoff on September 8th if no candidate wins more than half the votes.

1 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

2 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

6 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。