Mugabe likely to win poll, but who will lead Zimbabwe

The presidential, parliamentary, and local elections are expected to return Mugabe as president and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) as the ruling party. It continues to be regarded as the party that liberated Zimbabwe, enjoying the fierce support of the military and police, and demanding allegiance from all Zimbabweans. And, despite a new constitution and ongoing Southern African Development Community (SADC) diplomacy for fair and democratic polls, the opposition appears set up to fail.

With 89-year-old Mugabe expected to continue his 33-year rule in failing health, he has resisted naming a successor. The question for Zimbabwe's future, therefore, becomes not what the electoral outcome will be, but who will come after Mugabe.