2023 Zimbabwean general election
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16.28%)
16.33pp) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 6,623,511 ( 16.28%) | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 68.86% ( 16.33pp) | ||||||||||||||||||
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All 280 seats in the National Assembly 141 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||||||||||||
60 of the 80 seats in the Senate 41 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||||||||||||
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General elections were held throughout Zimbabwe on 23 and 24 August 2023 to elect the president, legislators and councillors.[1] The main race for presidential office was between two candidates of Karanga origin: ZANU–PF's Emmerson Mnangagwa and Citizens Coalition for Change's Nelson Chamisa.
The presidential election was won by the incumbent president Mnangagwa, while the governing ZANU–PF party won a majority of seats in parliament, with observer bodies describing the elections as not being free and fair.[2][3][4]
The voter rolls for the election increased to 6.5 million, up from 5.8 million in 2018.[5]
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission spoke about the delays citing that they would compensate for the delays meaning if the polling station was opened at 11 am, it would close at 11 pm to ensure that there is 12 hours of voting. There were some reports from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation that about 5 wards in Manicaland people did not manage to vote at all because of logistical difficulties which were faced by the ZEC. About 35 more were delayed, of which 11 of them were in the capital of the country, Harare, which ultimately lead to ZEC declaring 24 August 2023 to be a second voting day, although voting is supposed to take place within one day according to Zimbabwean law.[6]
Political parties competed for one presidential seat, 1,970 council seats and 280 parliamentary seats, and 60 senate seats to be elected for a five-year term. As per the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the president is to be elected using the two-round system.[7]
The general population feared possible violence during the election because both sides have a history of political violence. Preelectoral polls suggested a runoff was likely,[8][9] but Mnangagwa was elected in a single round with a narrow majority.
Presidential Election
The president of Zimbabwe is elected using the two-round system.
Parliamentary Election
The 280 members of the National Assembly consist of 210 members elected in single-member constituencies along with 60 women and 10 youth seats elected by proportional representation in ten seven-seat constituencies based on the country's provinces. Voters cast a single vote, which is counted for both forms of election.[10] The 80 members of the Senate include 60 members elected from ten six-member constituencies (also based on the provinces) by proportional representation using party lists; the lists must have a woman at the top and alternate between men and women.[11] The other 20 seats include two reserved for persons with disabilities and 18 for traditional chiefs.
Local Authority Election
The Local Authority elections consist of 1970 members elected in single-member ward along with 603 seats reserved for women elected by proportional representation in local authorities based on an additional 30% of seats in a local authority being reserved for women. Voters cast a single vote, which is counted for both forms of election.
Presidential candidates
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission approved 11 candidates, but disqualified Saviour Kasukuwere for failing to meet residency requirements.[12] The approved candidates include:[12][13]
- Emmerson Mnangagwa of ZANU–PF - incumbent president of Zimbabwe since 2017.
- Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
- Elisabeth Valerio of the United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA).
- Joseph Makamba Busha of the FreeZim Congress (FZC)
- Tapiwa Trust Chikohora of the Zimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development Party (ZCPD).
- Blessing Kasiyamhuru of the Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP).
- Lovemore Madhuku of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA).
- Harry Peter Wilson of the Democratic Opposition Party (DOP).
- Henry Gwinyai Muzorewa of the United African National Council (UANC).
- Wilbert Mubaiwa of the National People's Congress (NPC).
Campaign
The main issue of the election campaign was inflation[14] and the economic crisis which had been exacerbated by the hyperinflation of the new Zimbabwean dollar.[15]
The number of women candidates declined significantly compared to previous elections in 2018.[16]
Conduct
A Commonwealth observer mission was invited as part of an attempt to restore Zimbabwe's membership in the Commonwealth.[17]
Voting was extended for another day after a lack of ballot papers disrupted voting,[18][19] with some voters being forced to queue overnight to cast their ballots.[20] There were reportedly delays of up to 10 hours in opposition stronghold areas.[21] The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission acknowledged the late distribution of ballot papers at some polling stations and blamed it on printing delays "arising from numerous court challenges".[22] Forty-one poll monitors were arrested during the election, being accused of illegally attempting to announce results before the state elections body.[23] Accusations of vote rigging were made by the opposition.[24][25]
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