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Zimbabwe General Election 2023
August 23, 2023
General elections were held throughout Zimbabwe on 23 and 24 August 2023 to elect the president, legislators and councillors. The main race for presidential office was between two candidates of Karanga origin: ZANU–PF’s Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and Citizens Coalition for Change’s Nelson Chamisa. The voter rolls for the election increased to 6.5 million, up from 5.8 million in 2018.
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, also as a voting day although voting is supposed to take place within one day according to Zimbabwean law.
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, a presidential candidate must obtain a simple majority of the vote to be declared elected in the first round. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff election is held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes, the winner of which is then declared elected.
The general population feared possible violence during the election because both sides have a history of political violence. Preelectoral polls[which?] suggested a runoff was likely.
Results
Mnangagwa was re-elected president
Sources and further reading:
Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa wins second term, opposition rejects result, Al Jazeera 27.08.23
EU EOM Zimbabwe 2023: Curtailed rights and lack of level playing field compounded by intimidation; election day largely calm, but disorderly, European Union EXTERNAL ACTION: The Diplomatic Service of the European Union, 25.08.23
