July 31st, 2013 was marked as Election Day for Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said the vote has been free and fair so far. Voting got off to a slow start but later in the day queues stretched out over miles. More than 6 million voters were registered to cast their votes.

The ZEC reports that all polling stations opened on time and only a few stations registered minor logistical problems. The country’s main political rivals cast their earlier in the day.

President Robert Mugabe  made his mark in Harare. He was quoted saying : ”I believe the election was fair and that Zimbabweans were free to vote for the party of their choice.” Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Democratic Change Party was also seen making his mark in the capital. He was a little more expressive about how he felt about the Election. ”… Its a life and death vote.”

Both sides are forecasting landslide victories.

Entertainment: Ms Dhlomo Speak Out & Is Not Embarrassed

If you haven’t heard about the controversy, here is a quick run down: New Hyde Park Corner Boutique, Luminance, has the people of SA suspicious about how the Media tycoon and c0-owner, Khanyi Dhlomo got this haven funded.

The high-end store,  said to stocks brands such as Oscar de la Renta, Giorgio Armani and Marc Jacobs has recieved a sum of R34 million load from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), a government-funded organisation. The organisation is supposed to promote a culture of savings and investment among black people as well as facilitate black economic participation through the provision of both financial and non-financial support.

The boutique’s loan has got people talking about the posh designer house, only holding imported goods therefore only catering to to the wealthy-which understandably seems a little excessive in a country full of unemployed citizens. Many also feel the fund should have been focused towards first time business owners and small enterprises.

Khanyi Dlomo, her mother Venetia  and business woman Judy Dlamini (wife of FirstRand Bank CEO, Sizwe Nxasana) are the owners of this establishment. But the Khanyi Dhlomo isn’t ashamed about any of it.  Dhlomo defended the loan she recieved from government saying: ”I have nothing to hide.”

The grand opening of the boutique store was attended by politicians and celebrities. After questions arose of why the already successful business mogul recieved such a loan, Dlomo told Talk Radio 702: “I’m really comfortable that we’ve ticked all the boxes, I’m comfortable this deal has 100% integrity. We’ve got absolutely nothing to hide and I really think that we should be celebrating that for a change.”