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

The Structure of Zimbabwe's Government

Zimbabwe is a Semi-Presidential Republic.  The structure of the Zimbabwean Government is similar to ours in that it separates power between the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch.  However, the composition of each of these branches differs from the composition of the American branches of government. 

The Executive Branch

The executive branch currently consists of two executives, the President and the Prime Minister, both of which serve 5-year terms. Robert Mugabe holds the Presidential seat while Morgan Tsvangirai holds the Prime Minister seat.  The President is the head of the state and is in charge of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, is head of government and oversees the Council of Ministers.  There are two vice presidents and two deputy prime ministers.  Joseph Msika and Joice Mujuru hold the vice presidential positions, and Thokozani Khuphe and Arthur Mutambara hold the deputy prime minister positions. 

The Legislative Branch

Legislative power is vested in both government and parliament.  The Cabinet and the Council of Ministers hold legislative power along with the elected Parliament.  The Cabinet, overseen by the president, is the policy decision-making body.  The Council of Ministers—headed by the prime minister—functions as a liaison office and also “will assist in the formulation of policies, the supervision of government ministries by the prime minister and the implementation of cabinet policies.” Parliament is divided between the Senate and the House of Assembly, which functions similarly to the American Senate and House of Representatives.  The House of Assembly consists of 120 members elected by the common-roll electorate, 10 tribal chiefs, 12 presidential appointees, 8 presidentially appointed provincial governors, a speaker and an attorney general.  Sixty-six members make up the Senate; five representatives from each province constitute 50 of these members.  The president elects six additional members while traditional chiefs hold the remaining 10 seats.  Although there are currently only 66 seats in the Senate, Amendment Number 18 of 2007 allows the Senate to expand to 93 seats if necessary. 

The Judicial Branch

The Zimbabwean judicial branch functions as the American judicial branch does.  It consists of a Supreme Court and local court system.  A Chief Justice is appointed by the president to direct the judicial system in Zimbabwe. 

The Zimbabwean Constitution

The Constitution of Zimbabwe dictates the law of the land and is modeled similarly to the U.S. Constitution.  The Constitution originated from the Lancaster House Agreement, which was chaired by Lord Carrington.  The founding document contains a Bill of Rights, Amendments, focuses on majority rule, and protects human and minority rights. 

            Significant Amendments to the Constitution:

·      1987 Abolition of seats reserved for whites in parliament

·      1987 Abolition of Prime Minister office and creation of an Executive Presidency (this was the work of Robert Mugabe and has now been reversed)

·      1990 Abolition of the Senate and creation of appointed seats in the House of Assembly (the Senate was reintroduced in 2005)

 

The layout of Zimbabwean government appears surprisingly sound in structure.  The system makes sense and much of it mirrors American governmental organization.  However, President Mugabe has used the government structure, designed to implement democracy, to promote a more authoritarian society.  Therefore, Zimbabwe has been experiencing economic and humanitarian crisis.  The government has become tainted, and is driving the country further into calamity. 

President Robert Mugabe has led a slow regression away from the norms of democratic governance.  He has directed his government in the violation of human rights, corrupt election, and politicization of judiciary, military and police force.  The President implemented and enforced laws aimed at preventing freedoms of speech, assembly, and association.  Opposition members of parliament and governmental competition have been arrested, tortured and harassed by his order.  The legal system has not been enforced; rather President Mugabe’s word has been imposed.  Zimbabwe has become an “autocratic regime based on personal rule.”

Until February 11, 2009 Zimbabwe was under President Mugabe’s thumb.  He used torture, threat, and fear to govern the people of Zimbabwe.  The President brought the country into complete economic distress.  Inflation is rising at an astronomic rate.  All humanitarian advancements were destroyed in his wake. 

The structure of government that has been laid out for Zimbabwe has tremendous potential, but in order for it be successful, those who hold the governmental seats need to be virtuous.  On February 11 the Semi-Presidential Republic was reintroduced.  Morgan Tsvangirai, a symbol of hope for the Zimbabwean people, has filled the seat of Zimbabwean Prime Minister.  The next blog will go into greater detail about the elections and the process that Zimbabwe followed to reach this major turning point.  

2/19/2009

Overview of the Current Situation in Zimbabwe

By May 2008, conditions in Zimbabwe had worsened significantly.  The once prosperous nation had been facing a sweeping cholera epidemic and a major economic downturn when they were presented with the terror campaign of corrupt leader, President Robert Mugabe.  On May 28th 2008 Africa News announced that over “50 Zimbabweans have been killed while 25,000 have been displaced countrywide in the aftermath of the March 29 harmonized elections.”  In other words, President Mugabe had been using fear as a tactic to obtain the majority vote in the upcoming June 27th election against Morgan Tsvangirai. 

The first election, held in March 2008, resulted with not one candidate reaching the “50 plus one vote under the country’s electoral act”.  Therefore, a second round was to be held on June 27th.  However, when candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, also the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), found out about the killings taking place, he withdrew from the election.  Although he withdrew, he retained confidence in eventually attaining leadership over Zimbabwe.  He reassured the people by taking an active stance against Mugabe’s terror campaign.

“We are taking down the names of those involved in these heinous crimes and we know them.  We will approach the Attorney General’s office to have these people prosecuted.  We are also committed to a process of truth and justice once we get into government.  I don’t believe anyone who has murdered a person should be forgiven,” (Morgan Tsvangirai). 

The Zimbabwe Republic Police have also been forced into support of Mugabe.  The Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front (Zanu PF), advocates for Mugabe, had informed the police to resist arresting Zanu PF officials and supporters for political violence.  With even the police force wrapped around his finger, Mugabe was able to deter Tsvangirai from running, thus winning the June 27th election. 

By December conditions had worsened.  The death toll from the cholera epidemic reached close to 600, food shortages had increased, and the prices of goods were doubling by the day.  In September, a power-sharing deal brokered by South America, was created between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.  Under this deal, no progress was made.  It simply created a “political deadlock” over how to divide the Cabinet Posts, which only worsened the crisis. 

On Wednesday, February 11th, President Mugabe swore in long-time rival Tsvangirai as the new Prime Minister.  Although, this coalition may not seem very hopeful, Mugabe’s power has been reduced significantly. Since Mugabe no longer has full power of Zimbabwe, things are somewhat promising.    A lot of its success depends on Mugabe’s willingness to cooperate with the New Prime minister.

Devising a resolution to the economic crisis that has “left millions dependent on international food aid, and caused a cholera outbreak that has killed some 3,400 people since August” is the pair’s first priority.  Tsvangirai also promised that the government “would work to get children in school, hospitals open, ‘and food back on the tables for everybody, regardless of his political affiliation.’”

The people of Zimbabwe are certainly excited about the opportunity for change.  Political detainees have been released, the Prime Minister has set a promising agenda, and even the U.S. is anxious about the new opportunity for this African nation.  Zimbabweans definitely have something to be cheering about. 

2/12/2009