That Zimbabwe's military and security apparatus engaged in a brutal crackdown on unarmed protesters - in broad daylight and in full view of international media personnel - once again highlights the severe discrepancy between the government's rhetoric of "unity" and its actions on the ground.

Regardless of the outcome of today's vote in Zimbabwe, the country will have made history.

Although President Issoufou’s election in 2010 and re-election in 2016 were recognized as free and fair, tensions have been noticeably rising ahead of local elections in January 2020 and an expected presidential vote later in December.