Zimbabwe Elections, March 29, 2008
The Zimbabwe Elections held on March 29, 2008, were pivotal in the nation’s turbulent political landscape, marking a significant challenge to the long-standing presidency of Robert Mugabe and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). For the first time in nearly three decades, Mugabe faced a serious rival, Morgan Tsvangirai from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who garnered 47.87% of the votes compared to Mugabe's 43.24%. Since no candidate achieved a majority, a run-off election was scheduled for June 27, 2008. However, the period leading up to the run-off was marred by violence, with reports of over 80 MDC supporters being killed, prompting Tsvangirai to withdraw just days before the election due to safety concerns for his followers.
Despite this withdrawal, the official results of the run-off declared Mugabe the winner with 85.5% of the votes, a result met with widespread international condemnation due to the circumstances surrounding the elections. The political atmosphere in Zimbabwe was further complicated by an economy in severe distress, characterized by extreme unemployment and rampant inflation, which had transformed the nation from a food exporter to one reliant on humanitarian aid. The MDC performed notably well in parliamentary elections, securing 109 seats against ZANU-PF's 97, indicating a shift in political sentiment among the electorate. Overall, the 2008 elections highlighted a critical moment in Zimbabwe’s history, reflecting deep societal divisions and raising significant concerns over electoral integrity and human rights.
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Zimbabwe Elections, March 29, 2008
Summary: Zimbabwe held simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections on March 29, 2008. The main issue was the continuation of the two-decade rule of President Robert Mugabe, leader of the majority ZANU-PF party. In the first round of voting Mugabe won 43.24% of the vote to 47.87% for his chief rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Since neither man won a majority, a run-off election was scheduled for June 27, 2008. In the interim at least 80 MDC supporters were killed and thousands more severely beaten by ZANU-PF supporters, and Tsvangirai was repeatedly detained. Due to the violence he withdrew from the election four days before balloting. Official run-off results gave Mugabe 85.5% of the votes. Although he quickly took the oath of office Mugabe faces ongoing international criticism and disapproval over the conditions of the election, particularly the widespread intimidation of voters. In the new House of Assembly, results of the March voting gave the MDC 109 seats and ZANU-PF 97 seats; a breakaway faction of MDC gained another 10 seats. In the Senate, the two parties split the 60 seats up for election 30-30.
Background. Zimbabwe, the successor state to the former British colony of Rhodesia, emerged as an independent state with majority rule in 1980 after a bitter guerrilla war against white minority rule. Its politics have long been dominated by incumbent President Robert Mugabe, a guerrilla leader and cofounder of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Popular Front (ZANU-PF). Despite allegations of strong-arm tactics against his opponents and vote rigging in the previous presidential election of 2002, Mugabe has consistently observed at least the forms of democratic rule.
In the run-up to the simultaneous parliamentary and presidential election held on March 29, 2008, Zimbabwe's economy had virtually collapsed, with unemployment at 80% and inflation reported at over 100,000%. Having once been a net food exporter, by 2008 Zimbabwe had become dependent on food donations after its agricultural output plummeted in the wake of the seizure of white-owned farms and redistribution of the land to poor black farmers in 2000.
A coalition of opposition parties, running as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and led by Morgan Tsvangirai, posed the strongest challenge faced by Mugabe and his ZANU-PF. Initial official results of the parliamentary elections indicated MDC would win a majority in parliament; these results were later subjected to a recount. The government refused to release results of the presidential contest for more than a month, finally announcing on May 2, 2008, that Tsvangirai received 47.87% to Mugabe's 43.24%. A third candidate, Simba Makoni, formerly a member of the ruling ZANU-PF, received 8.31%. Since no one had a majority, a run-off was scheduled for June 27, 2008.
In the weeks between the preliminary results and the run-off, 80 MDC supporters were reported killed and thousands of others severely beaten by ZANU-PF supporters. Candidate Tsvangirai was detained and briefly went into exile in South Africa. Four days before the run-off Tsvangirai withdrew from the race and took refuge in the Dutch embassy rather, he said, than subject his followers to more attacks.
Results of the run-off were announced with two days. Mugabe was credited with winning 85.5% of the votes. Despite press reports of a low voter turnout, the government said 42% of voters turned out, about the same as in the March elections. Mugabe, age 84, was sworn to a new term the day the results were announced and appeared to offer Tsvangirai a role in some future power-sharing agreement.
The conduct of the election was widely criticized abroad. The United States said it would impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and urged the Security Council to invalidate the outcome.
In elections for the lower house of parliament, the House of Assembly, MDC candidates won 109 seats; ZANU-PF won 97, the first time ZANU-PF lost its majority since 1980. In the Senate, where 60 seats are chosen by universal adult franchise, ZANU-PF and MDC both won 30 seats. The rest of the seats are chosen by tribal chiefs and by the incoming president.
The official tabulation said that 42.75% of Zimbabwe's 5.9 million eligible voters cast ballots.
Issues
Economy. Heading into the election Zimbabwe's economy was in virtual collapse. Unemployment was reported at 80%. Food prices, reflecting a larger global trend, were soaring, leading to shortages in a country that once exported food to nearby countries. Inflation was reported at a rate of 100,000%, making currency essentially worthless. Barter, and currencies sent home from exiles, had largely replaced the Zimbabwe dollar. Economic meltdown was not a new issue in 2008. Critics of President Robert Mugabe blamed his program of land reform, launched in 1999, which seized land from white farmers and handed it over to landless black farmers, with a corresponding reduction in agricultural output.
Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe's president was not only a candidate in the 2008 elections; he was also an issue. Critics accused Mugabe, in power either as prime minister or as president since 1980, of using tactics of intimidation and violence to silence his critics. He was also personally blamed for economic policies that had driven the country to desperation. Mugabe campaigned on his reputation as a fighter for independence and for majority black rule, a reputation that dated to the 1960s. His failure to win a majority in the first round was unprecedented.
Parties
Zimbabwe African National Union--Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). Incumbent party of President Robert Mugabe, it was founded in 1963 as a black nationalist breakaway faction of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). ZANU-PF, in alliance with ZANU, won 57 out of 80 seats in Zimbabwe's first parliamentary elections in 1980; the party has been in power ever since. It originally took a position as a Marxist-Leninist party but subsequently moderated its policies. In the election of 2008 ZANU-PF was defending both its majority and the incumbency of Mugabe.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Founded in 1999 as a coalition opposed to the ruling ZANU-PF, MDC succeeded in leading a campaign in 2000 against a new draft constitution proposed by President Robert Mugabe. It advocates what it calls a "dynamic economy"--a mixed-market economy with a "strong social conscience" and underpinned by an open democracy. MDC calls for increased devolution of power and decision-making to provincial and local governments and institutions. In the 2000 parliamentary elections MDC won 57 of the 120 contested seats, the most seats won by any opposition party. MDC's support is centered in Matabeleland and in urban centers. In 2000 MDC won all the seats from Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's two largest cities. MDC candidates have won mayoral elections in Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Chegutu, Victoria Falls, Masvingo, Kariba and Gweru. For the 2005 parliamentary elections MDC split into two factions, the larger of which is led by Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC's 2008 presidential candidate.
Presidential candidates
Robert Mugabe (b. 1924), elected president in 1987 and again in 1990, 1996, and 2002. Mugabe became prime minister in 1980 after a successful guerrilla campaign for majority black rule and independence from Britain. He became president under a new constitution adopted in 1987. Blamed for insisting on policies, notably land reform that handed over white-owned farms to landless black farmers, that led to virtual economic collapse by 2008 (80% unemployment, rampant inflation) by 2008. Accused of rigging votes and intimidating dissidents during his latest term. Pledged to step down at end of current term, but decided in December 2007 to run for a fifth time.
Morgan Tsvangirai (b. 1952), cofounder and leader of Movement for Democratic Change (1999), former leader of a miner's union who organized strikes to protest tax increases in late 1990s. Led a campaign against a new constitution proposed by President Robert Mugabe (2000); unsuccessful candidate for president (2002). Acquitted of treason charges (for organizing anti-government protests). Nominated to run again as MDC's presidential candidate in 2008 election.
Simba Herbert Stanley Makoni, former finance minister and former official of ZANU-PF, aligned with Robert Mugabe, who ran as an independent. Given little chance of winning, Makoni's chief role in the election (he won 8.31% of the vote) was to deprive either of the leading candidates of a 50%+1 majority, therefore necessitating a run-off election between the two top vote getters.
Langton Towungana, an unknown figure who announced in February 2008 that he was running as part of a "mission from God" to save Zimbabwe.
Results
The first official results, for seats in parliament, were announced on April 3, 2008. They gave MDC 106 seats in the 210-member parliament (including one independent allied with MDC); 11 races were undeclared. ZANU-PF took 93 seats. Among losing candidates were seven cabinet ministers.
In the presidential contest the government refused to release results for five weeks, raising allegations of vote rigging. On May 2 the government said Tsvangirai received 47.9% to Mugabe's 43.2%. Makoni won 8.31%. A run-off was scheduled for June 27, 2008. In that contest Mugabe was credited with 85.5% of the votes.
International reaction. The presidential runoff was widely discredited abroad by violence against Tsvangirai supporters, 80 of whom were reported to have been killed and hundreds of whom were severely beaten, especially in rural areas. The government periodically banned opposition rallies and detained Tsvangirai and other leaders of the MDC.
After the results were announced the United States condemned the election as a "sham" and proposed an international arms embargo on Zimbabwe as well as a ban on travel by officials in the Mugabe government. Other Security Council members were less likely to agree to sanctions. South Africa was also reluctant to condemn the Mugabe government.