Polls have closed in a historic Zimbabwe election where 24 candidates are vying to occupy the presidential seat with the objective of turning the fortunes of the country around after 37year rule of Robert Mugabe, which was characterized by corruption, unemployment, sanctions and isolation from international development partners.
 

In all about 5.5 million registered Zimbabweans were expected to exercise their franchise at 10,985 polling stations across the country’s 1,958 wards.
 

The elections was generally peaceful and smooth but was characterized with very long queues especially in the capital, Harare, leading the opposition to claim that it was a deliberate attempt by the Zimbabwe Elections Commission (ZEC) to disenfranchise voters in their strongholds. The opposition has raised concerns about delays in urban areas and has vowed to protest if the election is flawed.
 

For the first time in Zimbabwe’s electoral history, thousands of election monitors and observers were in involved in the process to ensure the elections are credible and dispel doubts about fraud in the final outcome of the results.
 

The frontrunners of  the presidential elections are Emmerson Mnangagwa, incumbent president, Mugabe's former right-hand man in the governing Zanu-PF party who faces stiff opposition leader Nelson Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in a historic vote.
 

A credible vote is key to lifting international sanctions and attracting foreign investment to revive Zimbabwe’s shattered economy. 
 

“Today, Zimbabwe experienced a beautiful expression of freedom & democracy. In our millions, we voted in the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect & peace. As we wait for results to come in, let us remember that only ZEC is constitutionally mandated to announce any form of results” President Emmerson Mnangagwa tweeted this few minutes after the election was over.
 

Millions have voted, turnout was high and the day was free of the violence that marked previous elections. 
 

Final election results are expected within five days.