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1 Zimbabwe Election Support Network [Zesn] ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK [ZESN] REPORT ON THE ZIMBABWE 29 MARCH HARMONISED ELECTION AND 27 JUNE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF Advance Copy AUGUST 2008 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE Foreword --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Acknowledgements-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Acronyms---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 Executive Summary--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 Chapter One: Historical and Political Background of Elections---------------------------------14 • Historical Background--------------------------------------------------14 • The Post 2005-----------------------------------------------------------16 • Political Actors-----------------------------------------------------------16 • Emerging Political Issues---------------------------------------------18 • Relations with the West-----------------------------------------------19 Chapter Two: Legal, Institutional and Electoral Frameworks------------------------------------20 • Legal Framework--------------------------------------------------------20 • Institutional Framework------------------------------------------------20 • Electoral Framework---------------------------------------------------22 • Legality of the June 27 Run –Off-----------------------------------23 Chapter Three: Electoral Processes and Enforcement Gaps--------------------------------------24 • Voter Registration and Inspection ---------------------------------24 • Delimitation---------------------------------------------------------------25 • Nomination Processes-------------------------------------------------26 • Voter Education Processes-------------------------------------------28 • Polling Procedures------------------------------------------------------28 • Postal Voting ------------------------------------------------------------29 • Counting and Tabulation of Results--------------------------------29 • Recounts------------------------------------------------------------------29 • Media Coverage of Elections----------------------------------------30 • Accreditation of Observers-------------------------------------------30 • Civil Society Organization -------------------------------------------31 • Conflict Management -------------------------------------------------31 • Electoral Offences-----------------------------------------------------32 • Polling Stations---------------------------------------------------------32 Chapter Four: Pre-29 March Harmonized Election Campaigns and Polling Results-----34 • Electoral Environment -----------------------------------------------34 • Political Campaigns---------------------------------------------------35 • Primary Elections------------------------------------------------------36 • Use of Public Resources--------------------------------------------37 • Involvement of Security Forces------------------------------------37 • Traditional Leaders---------------------------------------------------38 • The 29 March Poll----------------------------------------------------38 2 • Voting ----------------------------------------------------------------------38 • Closing Of Polling Stations-------------------------------------------39 • Poll Projections----------------------------------------------------------39 • Counting and Tabulation of Results--------------------------------41 • Release of Results------------------------------------------------------41 • Local Authority Results------------------------------------------------43 • Acess to Electoral Processes By Groups With Special Needs- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------44 • Petitions and Recounts------------------------------------------------48 • Presidential Results----------------------------------------------------49 Chapter Five: The Run Up to the 27 June Presidential Run Off---------------------------------49 • Trends and Patterns of Violence------------------------------------49 • Harassment of Human Rights NGOs & HR Defenders-------49 • ZESN Under Seige-----------------------------------------------------50 • Use of State Resources-----------------------------------------------51 • Voter Education---------------------------------------------------------51 • Accreditation of International Observers and Journalist------52 • Election Administration------------------------------------------------53 • Media Coverage of Political Parties--------------------------------53 • Withdrawal Of The MDC Presidential Candidate---------------54 • Calls for Postponement of the Run Off----------------------------54 Chapter Six: The 27 June Presidential Run off------------------------------------------------------56 • Electoral Framework---------------------------------------------------56 • By-Elections--------------------------------------------------------------56 • Polling Day Scenarios-------------------------------------------------57 • Analysis of June Poll Results----------------------------------------58 • The Spoilt Ballot Vote Phenomenon-------------------------------58 • Reviews of the June Elections---------------------------------------59 Conclusion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------61 Recommendations------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------62 REFERENCES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------71 ANNEXURES--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------72 ANNEXURE 1: March 29 Presidential Election Results--------------------------------------------------72 ANNEXURE 2: March 29 House of Assembly Election Results----------------------------------------72 ANNEXURE 3: March 29 Senatorial Election Results-----------------------------------------------------92 ANNEXURE 4: March 29 Local Authority Election Results----------------------------------------------99 ANNEXURE 5: June 27 Presidential Run Off Election Results----------------------------------------179 3 Foreword The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), is a network of 38 independent, non-partisan, non- governmental organizations promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe. It has been observing all aspects of elections since its inception in 2000. ZESN utilizes the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Principles and Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Democratic Elections as the yardstick to measure the conduct of an election. The democratization process in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular has taken a long winding road that has resulted in electoral outcomes that have been at best acknowledged and at worst condemned. The oscillating executive decisions on the conduct of elections in respective countries have resulted in Africa being labeled emerging democracies even where the country in particular attained independence three decades ago. Democracy has been associated with elections and yet it is in danger of authoritarian manipulation. Historically, elections have been an instrument of authoritarian control as well as a means of democratic governance. The relative importance of elections in the democratization process is key in that the success of any democracy depends primarily on the conduct of participatory, competitive politics particularly free and fair elections that render legitimacy to the incumbent. However, elections in themselves are not sufficient to ensure democracy because even military juntas also hold elections to try and buy legitimacy from their victims. Electoral experiences, especially in Africa suggest their potential double-edged nature. On one hand by organizing periodic elections, governments create some semblance of democratic legitimacy and at the same time by placing those elections under tight authoritarian controls they try to cement their continued hold on power. Their dream is to reap the fruits of electoral legitimacy without running the risks of democratic uncertainty. Balancing between electoral control and electoral credibility, governments situate themselves in a nebulous zone of structural ambivalence. ZESN however, believes the democratization road must start with inclusive, participatory, free and fair elections. It also believes that elections form a fundamental value upon which democracy can lay its solid foundation. The fundamental concept that electoral reform will ultimately lead to broader political and economic reform is critical. The idea that electoralism alone suffices is fast losing ground as the modern thinking denotes that it should be in tandem with the respect for human freedoms and choices, contestation and participation which ultimately leads to legitimacy. The March 27, 2008 harmonized election was relatively calm with less incidents of political violence. The polling processes were generally smooth without serious problems. The period leading to the run off witnessed a dramatic down ward shift election in terms of election environment, processes and management which resulted in the election being condemned by regional member states as well as local civil society organisations and individuals, which ultimately led to a contested election. ZESN’s vision is a Zimbabwe where democratic electoral
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