Mnangagwa has won a second term in office. He won 52.6 percent of the vote compared with 44 percent for Nelson Chamisa, his main challenger, according to official results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) late on Saturday 26 August 2023.
The result will now extend ZANU-PF”s rule to nearly a half century with Mnangagwa’s victory. ZANU-PF also retained its parliamentary majority in the election. Mnangagwa won just over 2.3 million of the 4.4 million votes cast. Chamisa received 1.9 million, the electoral commission said.
Late on Saturday, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared 80-year-old Zanu PF incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa the winner with 52 percent of the vote.
Zimbabwe Elections 2023: Mnangagwa Declared Winner Of ‘Sham’ Presidential Election
The presidential term lasts for 5 years, and is elected by majority, with a second round if no candidate receives a majority in the first round. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the House of Assembly and Senate. Following the 2013 constitution, the House of Assembly has 270 members.
Per the 2013 Constitution, Zimbabwe is a full presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of state and government. Executive power is exercised by the government.
The politics of Zimbabwe are effectively a two-party system between the Robert Mugabe founded Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the opposition coalition Movement for Democratic Change. However, a tough contest has been between ZANUPF and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC ) led by Nelson Chamisa aged 45 .
ZANU was formed 8 August 1963 when Ndabaningi Sithole, Henry Hamadziripi, Mukudzei Midzi, Herbert Chitepo, Edgar Tekere and Leopold Takawira decided to split from ZAPU at the house of Enos Nkala in Highfield, Salisbury.
The ideology
In his presidential address, Sithole told the congress that ZANU “stands for democracy, socialism, nationalism, one man/one vote, freedom, pan-Africanism, non-racism, and republicanism.
In 1980, ZAPU contested elections in Zimbabwe as the Patriotic Front, but lost to its rival ZANU. They merged into ZANU–PF in 1987 following the Gukurahundi massacres.
Prior to its recognized independence as Zimbabwe in 1980, the nation had been known by several names: Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and Zimbabwe Rhodesia.
What is the voting system in Zimbabwe?
Single Member Majority
The winner must obtain an absolute majority of votes the minimum being 50% plus one vote. Two candidates with the highest number of votes. What does this mean? Greater number of votes is declared the winner.
According to data made available in April 2023, Zimbabwe’s economy could grow 6% this year, better than a previous forecast for 3.8% growth, thanks to a strong performance by agriculture and easing power shortages, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said.
According to world Bank report, the current challenges in Zimbabwe include persistent inflation, high dependence on low-productivity agriculture, slow structural transformation, and intermittent shocks like drought, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the high rate of poverty and vulnerability in Zimbabwe.
GDP in Zimbabwe is expected to reach 21.78 USD Billion by the end of 2023, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Zimbabwe GDP is projected to trend around 23.08 USD Billion in 2024 and 24.40 USD Billion in 2025, according to trading economics (econometric) models.
In 2023, economic activity is projected to stagnate, with rising unemployment and falling inflation. Interest rates are projected to remain high initially and then gradually decrease in the next few years as inflation continues to slow.
