Zimbabweans went to the polls on Monday in the first election since the removal of former president Robert Mugabe, hopeful that the new government will deliver on their campaign pledges of economic transformation.

The election pits 75-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, or ZANU-PF, against 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC, who is a lawyer and pastor vying to become Zimbabwe's youngest head of state.

Opinion polls give the former intelligence chief, who took over as president after Mugabe stood down, only a slim lead over Chamisa. There will be a runoff on Sept 8 if no candidate wins more than half the votes, Reuters reported.

Tanaka Chitsa, an expert based in Harare, Zimbabwe, said the polling stations opened early with a huge turnout, mainly consisting of a youthful population.

The campaigns, which started three months ago, have been dominated by pledges of economic recovery through industrialization, opening up of the economy for foreign investment and youth and women empowerment.

"Zimbabweans want a better economy and improved standards of living, alleviation of poverty and unemployment, which stands at 80 percent. The ordinary people are really not concerned about parties but about who is likely to deliver," Chitsa said.

Mnangagwa has pledged to revive the economy, attract foreign investment and mend racial and tribal divisions.

Chamisa, who honed his rhetorical skills in the courtroom and the pulpit, has attracted young and unemployed voters. He will need a large turnout from his supporters in towns and cities, with ZANU-PF dominant in the countryside.

Chitsa said: "I think what we are waiting to see is the administration of the elections in which the government promised reforms to make them credible."

He added that the move to invite observers from the European Union, the United States and the Commonwealth has boosted confidence in the process. The EU team will deliver a preliminary report two days after the elections.

David Monyae, a scholar at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, said the elections mean stability in the Southern African region.

"The country has been facing economic crisis for some time and has been the missing link in development. This new attempt at democracy is well received by Southern African Development Community governments," he said.

Voting started at 7 am and was scheduled to end at 7 pm. Zimbabwe has 16.15 million people with only 5.6 million registered to vote.

Reuters contributed to this story.