The Republic of Zimbabwe Presidential Election 2008

The Zimbabwean presidential and primary elections were held on March 29th, 2008.  This was a monumental election because the incumbent president and authoritarian type leader, Robert Mugabe, was not guaranteed the seat; instead, he was faced with an incredibly competitive opposition. Robert Mugabe had held executive power in Zimbabwe sine 1980, and the possibility for any candidate to provide real competition against him was unforeseen. 

Robert Mugabe ran as the ZANU-PF party candidate.  Candidates, Simba Makoni and Langton Towungana, ran as independents.  Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was the candidate who presented a threat to Mugabe’s presidency.

Zimbabwean policy requires that one candidate receives the majority vote (that is 50% plus one) in order to win the presidential election.  On March 29th Robert Mugabe gained 43.2% of the vote, Morgan Tsvangirai gained 47.9%, Simba Makoni gained 8.3% and Langton Towungana gained 0.6%.  The election was clearly between Tsvangirai and Mugabe, but neither had gained the majority vote.  Therefore, a second round was to be held on June 27th. 

Both primary candidates agreed to the second rounds, and so their campaigns continued.  Much had been reported about Mugabe’s the ZANU-PF targeting and threatening Tsvangirai supporters in order to obtain the majority vote.  As June 27th approached, Tsvangirai announced his withdrawal from the election, claiming his supporters would pay a violent price if they were to vote for him.  He publicly described the situation as a “violent sham”.  Although he withdrew from the election, Tsvangirai’s name still appeared on the ballot.  However, understanding votes in favor of Tsvangirai would be insignificant, most Zimbabweans voted for Mugabe. 

Mugabe won, of course, with 85.5% of the vote and was sworn in for another term on June 29th.  This provoked controversy around the world, and especially throughout the African continent.  Shortly after the swearing in, the African Union decided their involvement and input was necessary in order to slowly begin reviving Zimbabwe; they called for “a government of national unity” in Zimbabwe.  South African President, Thabo Mbeki was to act as a mediator in carrying out this order. 

Negotiation to form a joint power between Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe began on July 25th, 2008.  By mid-September, an agreement was reached between the two.  The arrangement involved Morgan Tsvangirai chairing the council of ministers and Robert Mugabe chairing a new national security council.  On September 16th, the two officially signed the agreement. 

After a few months of co-ruling with Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai felt it was necessary to enter a more serious power-sharing agreement. 

“On January 2009 Morgan Tsvangirai announced that he would do as the leaders across Africa had insisted and join a coalition government as prime minister with his nemesis, President Robert Mugabe."

Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on February 11, 2009. 

 Next week’s blog will discuss more background information on Zimbabwe’s two current leaders- Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe.  

2/26/2009