Vote Counting Under Way In Historic Zimbabwe Elections

Turnout high in poll where incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa are seen as frontrunners.

Vote counting has started in Zimbabwe's first general election since long-term President Robert Mugabe was pushed out of officelast year.

Voter turnout in Monday's polls was high, according to the election commission, which is expected to release a figure later in the day. More than five million people registered to take part in the closely-contested elections.

Emmerson Mnangagwa casts his ballot in Kwekwe [Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters]

The electoral body said 90 percent of the polling stations had opened on time by 8am local time (05:00 GMT). In the capital, Harare, long queues of voters were formed for several hours prior to the opening of the polls, before easing by mid-afternoon.

Polls closed at 17:00 GMT.

Nelson Chamisa cast his ballot in Harare [Mike Hutchings/Reuters]

Twenty-three candidates are competing for the presidency, with incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75, of ZANU-PF facing stiff competition from the youthful Nelson Chamisa, the 40-year-old leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Vote Counting Under Way In Historic Zimbabwe Elections