2008 Zimbabwean presidential election

2008 Zimbabwean presidential election was a pivotal event in the history of Zimbabwe, marked by a highly contested and controversial outcome. The election was held on March 29, 2008, and featured a showdown between incumbent President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe of the ZANU-PF party, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Simba Makoni, an independent candidate. The election was also closely watched by regional and international organizations, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union.

Background

The 2008 Zimbabwean presidential election took place against a backdrop of severe economic crisis, characterized by hyperinflation and widespread poverty, which had a devastating impact on the lives of Zimbabweans. The country's economy had been in decline since the 1990s, and the situation had worsened significantly in the years leading up to the election, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank imposing economic sanctions on Zimbabwe. The election was also marked by a high level of political polarization, with the ruling ZANU-PF party facing a strong challenge from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai, who had received support from Nelson Mandela and other prominent African National Congress leaders. The European Union (EU) and the United States had also imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, citing human rights abuses and electoral irregularities.

Candidates

The main candidates in the election were Robert Mugabe, the incumbent President of Zimbabwe and leader of the ZANU-PF party, Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Simba Makoni, an independent candidate who had previously served as Minister of Finance in Mugabe's government. Makoni had received support from some prominent ZANU-PF officials, including Dumiso Dabengwa, a former Minister of Home Affairs. Other candidates included Langton Towungana, a little-known politician from the Zimbabwe People's Democratic Party, and Welshman Ncube, a former Minister of Industry and International Trade who was running on the ticket of a smaller MDC faction. The candidates had engaged in a series of debates, including one hosted by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), which was also broadcast on South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Election process

The election process was marked by controversy, with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and other groups alleging that the ruling ZANU-PF party had engaged in widespread electoral irregularities, including voter intimidation and ballot stuffing. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had been criticized for its handling of the election, with some observers arguing that it was biased in favor of the ruling party. The African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had deployed observer missions to monitor the election, which were led by Kgalema Motlanthe and Bernard Membe, respectively. The European Union (EU) and the United States had also sent observer teams, which included representatives from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI).

Results

The results of the election were announced on May 2, 2008, with Morgan Tsvangirai declared the winner, having received 1,195,562 votes, or 47.9% of the total. Robert Mugabe received 1,079,730 votes, or 43.2% of the total, while Simba Makoni received 207,470 votes, or 8.3% of the total. However, since Tsvangirai had not received an absolute majority, a runoff election was scheduled for June 27, 2008. The results were widely disputed, with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) alleging that the ruling ZANU-PF party had engaged in widespread electoral fraud, including vote rigging and intimidation of voters. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had also been criticized for its handling of the election, with some observers arguing that it was biased in favor of the ruling party.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the election was marked by violence and intimidation, with the ruling ZANU-PF party and its supporters engaging in a campaign of repression against opposition supporters and activists. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had reported numerous cases of torture and arbitrary arrest, and had accused the ruling party of attempting to rig the runoff election. The African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had called for calm and restraint, and had urged the parties to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. The United Nations (UN) had also issued a statement, condemning the violence and calling for respect for human rights and the rule of law, and had dispatched a team of observers, led by Ban Ki-moon, to monitor the situation.

Controversy

The election was widely criticized for its lack of transparency and fairness, with many observers arguing that the ruling ZANU-PF party had engaged in widespread electoral irregularities. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had been criticized for its handling of the election, with some observers arguing that it was biased in favor of the ruling party. The European Union (EU) and the United States had imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, citing human rights abuses and electoral irregularities, and had called for a re-run of the election. The African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had also expressed concerns about the election, and had called for an investigation into the allegations of electoral irregularities. The Commonwealth of Nations had also suspended Zimbabwe's membership, citing concerns about the country's human rights record and democratic governance. Category:Zimbabwean elections