Elections in Zimbabwe
Political System: Restricted Democratic Practice
President: Robert G. Mugabe (ZANU-PF) [since 18 April 1980; served as Prime Minister 1980-1987, elected president by the parliament in 1987, re-elected directly in 1990, 1996 and 2002] The President is directly elected by popular vote for a 6-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Parliament [bicameral]
--Senate (66 Seats) 50 members elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system, 6 members are nominated by the president, and 10 seats are occupied by traditional chiefs chosen in separate elections; members serve 5-year terms.
--House of Assembly (150 Seats) 120 members are elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system, 12 members are nominated by the president, 10 traditional chiefs are chosen by their peers in separate elections, and 8 members are provincial governors appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms.
1980-1987 Emerging Democracy
1987- Restricted Democratic Practice
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 6, Civil Liberties - 6, Status: Not Free
Next Scheduled Senatorial Election: 2013
Next Scheduled House of Assembly Election: 2013
Political Parties: Rhodesia/Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (1965-1980) CP - Centre Party, RA - Republican Alliance, RAP - Rhodesian Action Party, RF - Rhodesian Front, NDU - National Democratic Union, NPP - National People's Party, NUF - National Unifying Force, UNFP - United National Federal Party, ZANU - Zimbabwe African National Union, ZUPO - Zimbabwe United People's Organization; Zimbabwe (1980-Present) ANP - African National Party, CAZ - Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe, FPZ - Forum Party of Zimbabwe, IZG - Independent Zimbabwe Group, MDC - Movement for Democratic Change (left-wing, social-democratic), MOP-CD - Multi-Racial Open Party-Christian Democrats, NAGG - National Alliance for Good Governance, NDU - National Democratic Union, NFZ - National Front of Zimbabwe, PAFA - Peace Action is Freedom for All, RF - Rhodesian Front, UANC - United National African Council, UNFP - United National Federal Party, UP - United Parties, UPAM - United People's Association of Matabeleland, ZA - Zimbabwe Aristocrats, ZANU - Zimbabwe African National Union, ZANU-Ndonga - Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga (right-wing, conservative), ZANU-PF - Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (authoritarian), ZAPU - Zimbabwe African People's Union, ZAPU-FP - Zimbabwe African People's Union-Federal Party, ZCP - Zimbabwe Congress Party, ZDP - Zimbabwe Democratic Party, ZFP - Zimbabwe Federal Party, ZIYA - Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance, ZPDP - Zimbabwe People's Democratic Party, ZUM - Zimbabwe Unity Movement.
Legislative: 1965, 1970, 1974, 1977
Referendum: 1964, 1969, 1979, 2000
ZIMBABWE-RHODESIA
Legislative: 1979
Presidential: 1990, 1996, 2002
House of Assembly: 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005
Senate: 2005
Constitutional Referendum: 2000
Elections in Rhodesia
05 November 1964 Referendum*
Ballot Question: Are you in favour of or against Southern Rhodesia obtaining independence on the basis of the Constitution of Southern Rhodesia 1961?
Registered Voters 105,444
Total Votes 65,242 [Voter Turnout: 61.9%]
Invalid/Blank Votes 965
Total Valid Votes 64,277
Number of Votes
% of Votes
"Yes" Votes
"No" Votes
*The results are not recognized internationally.
07 May 1965 House of Assembly Election*
Registered Voters N/A ("A" Roll - 92,256(approx.)**; "B" Roll - 10,544)
Total Votes N/A ("A" Roll - N/A; "B" Roll - N/A) [Voter Turnout: N/A]
"A" Roll
"B" Roll
Number of Seats (75)
Rhodesian Front (RF)
National People's Party (NPP)
*The elections were held with two rolls. The "A" roll represented constituencies with largely European [White] populations. Blacks and other minorities could compete in elections for "A" roll seats, but stringent qualification requirements effectively excluded most of these groups. The "B" roll generally represented constituencies with largely non-white populations.
**Approximately 90,000 registered voters on the "A" Roll were European [White] and 2,256 were Black.
20 June 1969 Referendum
Issue 1 (New Constitution)
Main Points: Voting Qualifications (that exclude most Africans from the voting process), Unicameral Legislature
Invalid/Blank Votes 1,206
Main Points: Declaration of the Republic
10 April 1970 House of Assembly Election*
Registered Voters N/A ("A" Roll - 65,000 (approx.); "B" Roll - N/A)
Invalid/Blank Votes N/A ("A" Roll - N/A; "B" Roll - N/A)
Total Valid Votes N/A ("A" Roll - 51,606; "B" Roll - N/A)
Republican Alliance (RA)
Centre Party (CP)
Members selected by African Chiefs
31 July 1974 House of Assembly Election*/**
Registered Voters N/A ("A" Roll - N/A; "B" Roll - N/A)
**The United African National Council (UANC) boycotted elections for the African "B" roll seats.
31 August 1977 House of Assembly Election*
National Unifying Force (NUF)
Rhodesian Action Party (RAP)
30 January 1979 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Presidential Republic, Equal voting rights for all citizens
Elections in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
April 1979 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters 2,900,000 (approx.)
Total Votes 1,869,077 [Voter Turnout: 64.5% (approx.)]
Invalid/Blank Votes 66,319
Total Valid Votes 1,802,758
United National African Council (UANC)
Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)
United National Federal Party (UNFP)
Zimbabwe United People's Organization (ZUPO)
National Democratic Union (NDU)
February 1980 House of Assembly Election*
White Roll
Common Roll
(14 February 1980)
(27-29 February 1980)
Number of Seats (100)
Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)
United African National Council (UANC)
Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga
(ZANU-Ndonga)
Zimbabwe Democratic Party (ZDP)
National Front of Zimbabwe (NFZ)
United People's Association of Matabeleland (UPAM)
*The elections were held with a 'White roll' and 'Common roll' system. 20 of the 100 seats were reserved for the white minority.
June/July 1985 House of Assembly Election*
3,007,899 (N/A)
35,753 (N/A)
(27 June 1985)
Common Roll (01-02 July 1985)
Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe (CAZ)
Independent Zimbabwe Group (IZG)
23 March 1990 Presidential Election
2,587,204 (53.9%)
Candidate (Party)
Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF)
Edgar Tekere (ZUM)
23 March 1990 House of Assembly Election
Number of Seats (120)*
Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)
Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM)
Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga (ZANU-Ndonga)
*120 seats are filled through direct election; 30 seats are reserved for appointees.
8-9 April 1995 House of Assembly Election*
Number of Seats (120)**
Forum Party of Zimbabwe (FPZ)
Zimbabwe Congress Party (ZCP)
Zimbabwe Federal Party (ZFP)
Zimbabwe Aristocrats (ZA)
African National Party (ANP)
*Boycotted by the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) and United Parties (UP).
**120 seats are filled through direct election; 30 seats are reserved for appointees.
16-17 March 1996 Presidential Election*
Abel Muzorewa (UP)
Ndabaningi Sithole (ZANU-Ndonga)
*Sithole and Muzorewa withdrew during the week prior to balloting but their names remained on the ballot and both garnered votes.
12-13 February 2000 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Consolidation of presidential powers, government allowed to confiscate white-owned land for redistribution to black farmers without compensation, government officials given immunity from prosecution
24-25 June 2000 House of Assembly Election
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
9-11 March 2002 Presidential Election
Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC)
Wilson Kumbula (ZANU-Ndonga)
Shakespeare Maya (NAGG)
Paul Siwela
Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance (ZIYA)
Zimbabwe People's Democratic Party (ZPDP)
26 November 2005 Senatorial Election*
Number of Seats (50)**
Peace Action is Freedom for All (PAFA)
Zimbabwe African People's Union-Federal Party (ZAPU-FP)
Multi-Racial Open Party-Christian Democrats (MOP-CD)
*Partially boycotted by the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
**50 seats are filled through direct election; 16 seats are reserved for appointees (6 presidential appointees & 10 traditional chiefs).
March/June 2008 Presidential Election
First Round (29 March 2008)
Second Round (27 June 2008)
Simba Makoni
Langton Towungana