Presidential election kicks off in Zimbabwe

HARARE - Zimbabweans began voting on Monday in the African country's first presidential election since former head of state Robert Mugabe resigned in November.

Voting started at 7:00 local time (0500 GMT) at most polling stations in Harare's Warren Park constituency and will end at 19:00 (1700 GMT).

Long queues could be seen early in the morning outside the polling stations in Warren Park.

Some voters said they started queuing from midnight. They said they want the new government to create jobs, resolve the financial crisis, and improve health services.

"We have suffered for too long," 65-year-old Peter Mukumba, one of the early bird voters, said. "We want the new government to create jobs for the people, solve the cash crisis, and give old people cash-outs to help them survive."

Zimbabweans are voting to elect a president as well as members of both houses of parliament.

President Emerson Mnangagwa is squaring off with 22 other presidential candidates, with his main competitor being the young leader of the opposition MDC Alliance, Nelson Chamisa.

Around 5.6 million people registered to vote.