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2023 Zimbabwean general election

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2023 Zimbabwean general election
← 2018 23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) 2028 →
Registered6,623,511 (Increase 16.29%)
Turnout68.86% (Decrease 16.24pp)
 
Candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa Nelson Chamisa
Party ZANU–PF CCC
Popular vote 2,350,711 1,967,343
Percentage 52.60% 44.03%
President before election

Emmerson Mnangagwa
ZANU–PF

Elected President

Emmerson Mnangagwa
ZANU–PF

National Assembly
All 280 seats in the National Assembly
141 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
ZANU–PF Emmerson Mnangagwa 56.18 177 −2
CCC Nelson Chamisa 41.46 103 New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Senate
60 of the 80 seats in the Senate
41 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Seats +/–
ZANU–PF Emmerson Mnangagwa 33 −1
CCC Nelson Chamisa 27 New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Maps
Politics of Zimbabwe
Constitution
Government
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

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 won the first round with a narrow majority.

Electoral system

[edit]

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

[edit]

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission approved 11 candidates, but disqualified Saviour Kasukuwere for failing to meet residency requirements.[12] The approved candidates include:[12][13]

Campaign

[edit]

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

[edit]

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 whom?][24]

Results

[edit]
See also: Results of the 2023 Zimbabwean general election

President

[edit]

Mnangagwa was re-elected president.[25]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Emmerson MnangagwaZANU–PF2,350,71152.60
Nelson ChamisaCitizens Coalition for Change1,967,34344.03
Wilbert MubaiwaNational People’s Congress53,5171.20
Douglas MwonzoraMovement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai28,8830.65
Joseph Makamba BushaFreeZim Congress18,8160.42
Blessing KasiyamhuruZimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity13,0600.29
Tapiwa Trust ChikohoraZimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development Party10,2300.23
Gwinyai Henry MuzorewaUnited African National Council7,0530.16
Elisabeth ValerioUnited Zimbabwe Alliance6,9890.16
Harry Peter WilsonDemocratic Opposition Party6,7430.15
Lovemore MadhukuNational Constitutional Assembly5,3230.12
Total4,468,668100.00
Valid votes4,468,66897.97
Invalid/blank votes92,5532.03
Total votes4,561,221100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,623,51168.86
Source: Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC

Results by province

[edit]
Results by Province[26]
Province Joseph Makamba Busha Nelson Chamisa Tapiwa Trust Chikohora Blessing Kasiyamhuru Lovemore Madhuku Emmerson Mnangagwa Wilbert Mubaiwa Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa Douglas Mwonzora Elisabeth Valerio Harry Peter Wilson Total Votes Rejected Total Votes Cast Total Valid Votes Cast Voter Population Voter Turnout %
FreeZim Congress CCC ZCPD ZIPP NCA ZANU–PF NPC UANC MDC-T UZA DOP
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Bulawayo 437 0.26 131,037 78.52 306 0.18 255 0.15 129 0.08 31,053 18.61 1,389 0.83 230 0.14 1,004 0.60 803 0.48 249 0.15 2,040 1.21 168,932 166,892 287,352 58.79
Harare 1,236 0.17 517,494 71.46 778 0.11 804 0.11 543 0.07 193,881 26.77 4,958 0.68 470 0.06 2,337 0.32 1,365 0.19 325 0.04 10,071 1.37 734,262 724,191 1,084,601 67.70
Manicaland 2,496 0.45 240,672 43.47 1,547 0.28 1,814 0.33 1,074 0.19 290,960 52.56 8,588 1.55 993 0.18 3,891 0.70 713 0.13 877 0.16 11,354 2.01 564,979 553,625 829,324 68.13
Mashonaland Central 2,089 0.44 95,508 19.97 785 0.16 1,289 0.27 455 0.10 370,175 77.41 4,058 0.85 586 0.12 2,280 0.48 358 0.07 648 0.14 9,200 1.89 487,431 478,231 625,968 77.87
Mashonaland East 1,435 0.26 184,827 33.51 892 0.16 914 0.17 415 0.08 354,081 64.20 5,101 0.92 671 0.12 2,178 0.39 435 0.08 563 0.10 10,694 1.90 562,206 551,512 773,281 72.70
Mashonaland West 2,579 0.47 209,744 38.10 1,165 0.21 1,667 0.30 529 0.10 323,523 58.77 5,664 1.03 825 0.15 3,157 0.57 757 0.14 887 0.16 13,931 2.47 564,428 550,497 785,583 71.85
Masvingo 2,634 0.53 167,813 33.96 1,454 0.29 2,240 0.45 637 0.13 307,383 62.21 6,798 1.38 908 0.18 2,825 0.57 540 0.11 896 0.18 11,087 2.19 505,215 494,128 723,934 69.79
Matabeleland North 1,425 0.65 111,609 51.03 955 0.44 1,060 0.48 489 0.22 91,306 41.74 5,356 2.45 751 0.34 4,249 1.94 826 0.38 703 0.32 6,594 2.93 225,323 218,729 371,701 60.62
Matabeleland South 1,331 0.76 80,365 45.89 970 0.55 1,035 0.59 416 0.24 82,511 47.12 3,997 2.28 702 0.40 2,673 1.53 503 0.29 612 0.35 4,772 2.65 179,887 175,115 300,768 59.81
Midlands 3,154 0.57 228,274 41.08 1,378 0.25 1,982 0.36 636 0.11 305,838 55.03 7,608 1.37 917 0.17 4,289 0.77 689 0.12 983 0.18 12,810 2.25 568,558 555,748 840,999 67.61
National Total 18,816 0.42 1,967,343 44.03 10,230 0.23 13,060 0.29 5,323 0.12 2,350,711 52.60 53,517 1.20 7,053 0.16 28,883 0.65 6,989 0.16 6,743 0.15 92,553 2.03 4,561,221 4,468,668 6,623,511 68.86

National Assembly

[edit]

The National Assembly has 210 single-member constituencies, the results of which are shown below.[27] The remaining 70 seats comprises 60 seats which are reserved for women, six seats in each province, and 10 seats for youth, one seat in each province, which are filled based on the votes in the single-member constituencies using party-list proportional representation, distributed using the largest remainder method and the Hare quota.

On election day itself ZANU–PF won 136 seats and the CCC 73, with ZANU–PF retaining its rural base and the CCC capturing the urban vote.[28][29][30] Voting in the Gutu West constituency was postponed to 11 November after one of the candidates died shortly before the elections.[31] Following the parliamentary election in Gutu West, 65.24% of the constituency seats went to ZANU-PF and 34.76% of the constituency seats went to the CCC.[32]

PartyVotes%Seats
CommonWomenYouthTotal+/–
ZANU–PF2,515,60756.18137337177–2
Citizens Coalition for Change1,856,39341.4673273103New
Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai15,3070.340000–88
Zimbabwe African People's Union10,8570.2400000
United Zimbabwe Alliance4,9370.110000New
National Constitutional Assembly2,4620.0500000
Democratic Opposition Party2,1050.050000New
FreeZim Congress1,9260.0400000
Democratic Union of Zimbabwe1,8810.0400000
Mthwakazi Republic Party1,6410.0400000
Zimbabwe National Revival Party1,2710.030000New
Zimbabwe African National Congress6280.010000New
United African National Council5740.0100000
Zimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development Party4340.010000New
National People’s Congress2970.010000New
Economic Freedom Fighters2860.010000New
United Freedom Party1870.000000New
Freedom Alliance1480.000000New
Independents60,4451.350000–1
Total4,477,386100.002106010280+10
Source: Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Zimbabwe Elections

Senate

[edit]
PartySeats+/–
ZANU–PF33–1
Citizens Coalition for Change27New
Chiefs180
Persons with disabilities20
Total800
Source: Zimbabwe Electoral Commission

MPs who lost their seats

[edit]
Defeated Party Constituency Defeated by Party
Starman Chamisa[33] Citizens Coalition for Change Mbare Martin Matinyanya ZANU–PF
Temba Mliswa[34] Independent Norton Richard Tsvangirai Citizens Coalition for Change
Raj Modi[35] ZANU–PF Bulawayo South Nicola Watson Citizens Coalition for Change
Mthuli Ncube[36] ZANU–PF Cowdray Park Pashor Raphael Sibanda Citizens Coalition for Change

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zimbabwe Presidential Elections Scheduled for Aug. 23". Bloomberg. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. ^ Cohen, Tim (28 August 2023). "After the Bell: Were the Zimbabwean elections free and fair? Please, spare me". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Zimbabwe's Flawed Election Results Meet With Regional Skepticism". www.cfr.org. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  4. ^ "SADC Electoral Observation Mission Preliminary Statement to the Harmonised Election to the Republic of Zimbabwe". www.sadc.int. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  5. ^ "ZEC records 6.5 million registered voters - New Ziana". 21 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  6. ^ Banya, Nelson; Chingono, Nyasha (24 August 2023). "Zimbabwe sets extra day of voting in selected wards after delays". Reuters. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Zimbabwe election: Your guide to how the electoral system works". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  8. ^ Africa Elects [@AfricaElect] (10 February 2023). "Zimbabwe, SABI strategy poll" (Tweet) (in Bengali and English). Retrieved 23 August 2023 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Zimbabwe: Poll suggests election headed to a runoff". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Electoral system – National Assembly". Inter-Parliamentary Union.
  11. ^ "Electoral system – Senate". Inter-Parliamentary Union.
  12. ^ a b "Zimbabwe elections 2023: What you need to know". BBC News. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Elisabeth Valerio Becomes Sole Woman in Presidential Election". VOA Zimbabwe. 19 July 2023.
  14. ^ Banya, Nelson; Chingono, Nyasha (23 August 2023). "Zimbabweans vote but hopes of ending economic freefall look dim". Reuters. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Zimbabwe gears up for 2023 election amid economic woes – DW – 12/30/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Patriarchal politics, online violence and silenced voices - The Nordic Africa Institute". nai.uu.se. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Emmerson Mnangagwa - Zimbabwe's 'crocodile' who wants another bite". BBC. 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  18. ^ Chingono, Nyasha (23 August 2023). "Voting in Zimbabwe general election delayed by lack of ballot papers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  19. ^ Chingono, Nyasha (24 August 2023). "Voting in Zimbabwe election extended by another day after ballot delays". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  20. ^ Flanagan, Jane (24 August 2023). "Zimbabwe elections: Voters queue overnight and polling stations open late". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Voting extended in Zimbabwe election after 'disproportionate' delays in opposition strongholds". France 24. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Zimbabwe's election extends to a second day after long ballot delays. Some slept at polling stations". AP News. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Zimbabwe election: Poll monitors arrested amid election". BBC News. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  24. ^ Musengi, Kudzanai; Cotterill, Joseph (24 August 2023). "Zimbabwe election marred by delays and vote-rigging accusations". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa wins re-election after troubled vote". AP News. 26 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Zimbabwe Electoral Commission". Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Election Dashboard : Live Update Results 23 August 2023". zimbabweelections2023.co.zw. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  28. ^ Banya, Nelson; Chingono, Nyasha (25 August 2023). "Zimbabwe braces for close election as early parliamentary results come in". Reuters. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Early results suggest closely fought Zimbabwe parliamentary polls". Daily Sabah. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Partial results suggest ZANU-PF's lead as election observers decry 'climate of fear'". SABC News. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  31. ^ "ZEC stops Gutu West election after death of retired soldier candidate". Nehanda Radio. 15 July 2023.
  32. ^ "2023 Elections Zimbabwe". Pindula. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  33. ^ Murwira, Zvamaida (26 August 2023). "Zanu PF poised for landslide". The Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  34. ^ Masau, Problem. "Candidates concede defeat". NewsDay. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Zimbabwe Elections 2023 Results: Deputy Minister Raj Modi Loses Parliamentary Seat To CCC's Watson". Pindula. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  36. ^ Muzavazi, Shakespeare (24 August 2023). "ZANU PF candidate locks borehole after losing to CCC; as Mthuli Ncube loses in Cowdray Park". Zw News Zimbabwe. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
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