Zimbabwe Elections: Impact on credibility, fairness, and peacefulness of democratic processes

By Tinashe Katsidzira

Although the outcome of Zimbabwe’s upcoming election remains uncertain, there are several factors that can be analyzed in relation to the potential impact on the credibility of the election. One important aspect is youth participation – as Zimbabwe has a significant young population of about 67.7% of citizens and this could greatly influence the outcome of the forthcoming elections. Sadly, out of the 6 million registered voters youths are not more than 30%. It must also be noted that historically, youth participation on the actual voting day has been relatively low due to a lack of trust in the political system and disillusionment with the ruling party. It is clear from conversations within circles that youths in Zimbabwe continue to find it meaningless to go and vote as they believe their votes will change nothing.

Another factor is the scope of the electoral playing field. Zimbabwe has a history of skewed electoral processes and such tendencies have continued in the build-up to the August 23 Elections. Allegations of voter manipulation and gerrymandering characterize the recent delimitation process. The main opposition led by Nelson Chamisa has often faced hurdles in getting their rallies unhampered by police and faced struggles congregating freely as well as accessing media resources. This has created an uneven playing field and therefore continues to undermine the credibility of the election.

Additionally, the ruling party has a strong grip on state institutions including the judiciary. This makes it difficult for opposition parties to compete on equal grounds. The build-up to this election has been marred by candidate disqualifications, court applications, and deliberate closure of civic spaces. Twelve opposition candidates for the National Assembly from Bulawayo were disqualified on the basis that they failed to file their nomination papers within the stipulated time frame. The opposition argues that its candidates filed the papers before 4 PM on the stipulated date but the processing was done after 4 PM. This is permissible before the dictates of the law.

The same Courts have also dismissed applications for appeal by Saviour Kasukuwere on his case of being denied the opportunity to run for the presidential office. The argument put forth is that He (Kasukuwere) was out of the country for more than 18 months and therefore he has ceased to be a registered voter and thus cannot run for office. This position has been interpreted by others as a deliberate attempt to stop the running of a man who could possibly cause a vote split within the ruling party on the basis of alleged factional politics.

Furthermore, just like in the past, vote buying remains another concern in Zimbabwe’s elections. There is a growing concern about politicians who have been known to distribute goods, such as agricultural inputs, food, and clothing in exchange for votes. This practice continues to undermine our democratic processes by immensely eroding public trust in the electoral system.

Intimidation is also prevalent in Zimbabwe’s political landscape. Our politics continues to be characterized by harassment, threats to lives, and violence. This creates an atmosphere of fear and inhibits the fundamental rights of free expression of political preferences as well as association. Various reports actually indicate that most people especially in the rural areas are either intimidated or threatened to lose their privileges of getting agricultural inputs and goodies if they should decide not to attend rallies of the ruling party and those that attend the rallies of the opposition parties are threatened to be expelled from their respective villages. People are left with no option but to praise the hand that dangles a carrot and a stick over them.

Lastly, there is also a growing concern about the political culture of violence in Zimbabwe at the moment. This culture of violence continues to contribute to a climate of fear that may undermine the credibility of the electoral processes. There are also fears that just like in the previous elections, the post-election period after August 23 may be marred by instances of violence, resulting in loss of life and injuries.

It is important to state categorically that these thoughts are personal and do not represent the views of any institution. In my personal opinion, the issues l have raised among others may significantly affect the credibility of Zimbabwe’s upcoming election. It is therefore beyond any reasonable doubt that without addressing these concerns, it will be difficult to have confidence in the fairness and transparency of Zimbabwe’s electoral process. To ensure a credible election, we must foster an environment of inclusivity, respect for human rights, and equal opportunities for all political actors.

Proposed Recommendations

There are several calls for action, solidarity, and recommendations to improve the credibility of Zimbabwe’s upcoming 2023 elections. I believe significant strides can be taken toward improving the credibility of Zimbabwe’s upcoming elections and restoring public trust in the democratic process through the following:

1. Call for transparency: As it stands there is a widespread demand for transparency in the electoral process, including an independent and impartial Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, proper voter verification processes, and ballot paper printing processes. It is also imperative to call for eventual transparency in the vote counting and announcement of results on August 26 as scheduled.
2. International observation: There is a need to call for international observation missions to objectively monitor not only the elections but also the build-up process. This is to ensure that electoral processes are conducted in a free and fair manner. The presence of international observers can help deter electoral malpractices and provide an objective assessment of the process.
3. Strengthening of institutions: There is a need to strengthen democratic institutions in Zimbabwe, such as the judiciary, media, and civil society organizations. These institutions play a critical role in upholding democratic values and ensuring accountability, thus if they lack the capacity to coordinate their processes independently, then the outcomes of such processes are always bound to be met with contentions.
4. Protection of human rights: In the context of perceived political repression, it is essential for the government and security forces to respect and protect the human rights of all citizens, including the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Any acts of intimidation, violence, or harassment should be condemned and addressed promptly.
5. Inclusivity and representation: Calls for inclusivity in the political process, ensuring that all political parties have equal opportunities to campaign, and access to media, and resources are essential. Additionally, there is a need for increased representation of women, youth, and marginalized communities in electoral processes.
6. Electoral reforms: Although it is technically too late for this upcoming election, it is not too late for the health of other future elections to recommend electoral reforms including enhancing the legal framework to prevent voter manipulation, ensuring a level playing field for all parties, and addressing the issue of vote buying. These reforms should be implemented in a transparent and inclusive manner.
7. International solidarity: The international community has a role to play in supporting Zimbabwe’s democratic process. Calls for diplomatic pressure and conditional aid should be made to encourage the government to take necessary steps toward credible elections.