On 23 August Zimbabwean voters went to the polls. The declared victor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been inaugurated for his second term as president. According to the constitution, the 80-year-old will not be allowed to stand for the next election in five years. Now that the newly formed government and parliament have started their work, some conclusions can be drawn as to the path Zimbabwe will take in the next five years: The controversial election result has dashed hopes for an end to the diplomatic isolation of the country. The continuity of key cabinet posts indicates that a drastic improvement to the stagnating economy is not to be expected. In order to consolidate the slight strengthening of its representation, the opposition should make parliament the central platform for a political debate on corruption and reforms.
