Mugabe-less Zimbabwe to vote for the first time since independence

The main contenders in the polls are present President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Mnangagwa, who took over from Mugabe, is the ruling Zanu-PF party candidate.

Chamisa leads the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party.

Robert Mugabe, the founding President, was ousted in a coup last year, after almost forty years in power.

According to exit polls, Mnangagwa, 75, holds a slight edge over his 40 years old rival.

Reports have predicted a high turnout on Monday's vote, with almost half of the registered voters aged below 35.

5,635,706 people across 10,985 polling booths in Zimbabwe will exercise their rights, officials said. 

Both the candidates have campaigned keeping economic reform in the backdrop, however, Chamisa has incurred criticism for his over the top promises, including the introduction of a bullet train in Zimbabwe.

Several reports have suggested that the unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is as high as 90 percent.

Meanwhile, in a veiled statement, former President Robert Mugabe has thrown his weight behind the opposition candidate.

"I cannot vote for those who tormented me," he told the BBC. "I hope the choice of voting tomorrow will thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality."

Hitting out at Mugabe for his comments, Mnangagwa said, "It is clear to all that Chamisa has forged a deal with Mugabe, we can no longer believe that his intentions are to transform Zimbabwe and rebuild our nation."

Image: twitter.com/kristamahr