Zimbabwe citizens on Wednesday, August 23 converged at polling stations to participate in voting for their leaders.

The elections are being held amid vote rigging claims, as opposition leaders cite harassment by government.

There were also concerns of a crackdown on some opposition leaders, a few days to the election day.

Deputy chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Rodney Kiwa allayed fears of vote rigging allegations, insisting that the electoral body was committed to delivering a free and fair election.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking a re-election after taking over in 2018 after a coup that toppled Robert Mugabe’s government in 2017.

45-year-old Nelson Chamisa, is the main challenger of President Mnangagwa in the ongoing elections.

Chamisa, the yellow-coloured Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party leader mounted his campaign against the current regime, citing unemployment and high poverty rate in the country.

Voting in most stations started at about 6am while the polling stations are expected to close at 7:00 pm (1700 GMT).

The final results for the presidential election will be declared within five days, according to the regulations of the electoral body in Zimbabwe.