Zimbabwe Holds By-Elections
After numerous delays, deaths, and reassignments, Zimbabwe has finally held its by-election in late March. Come take a look at our article to learn more.
Zimbabwe finally held its by-election after many delays. The March by-elections were seen as a dry run for the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2023. 16 parties took part in the polls, but only 2 won seats.
The by-elections were triggered by the deaths and reassignments of 8 incumbents. They also included 20 seats vacated by the opposition MDC-A due to a power struggle. By-elections are supposed to be held 90 days after they become vacant under law, but the government postponed them citing Covid-19 measures.
The By-Election Results
Fighting the odds, CCC won 19 out of 28 parliamentary seats. The Zimbabwean parliament has 210 seats in total. Additionally, CCC won 75 of the contested 122 municipal seats, primarily in its urban strongholds. It still needs to make progress in the rural areas. The rest of the seats went to the ruling Zanu PF party.
The Ruling Party in the Doldrums
President Emmerson Mnangagwa narrowly won the presidential elections in 2018 under allegations of rigging, although his party, Zanu PF, won a supermajority in parliament. The disparity between his and the party's performance was seen as an indication of his lack of popularity. Mnangagwa was part of a military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe.
Robert Mugabe was an icon and charismatic leader of Zanu PF and the country for over 30 years. He has supporters in the party that don't like or trust Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa has thus roped in Mugabe's son to appease these detractors to show support.
But Mnangagwa's biggest problem is his handling of the economy. Since his election in 2018, Zimbabweans have seen a continuous downward spiral in the economy. More people are unemployed, and those with jobs have seen their income get ravaged by high inflation.
Internal Disputes Hinder Opposition Parties
In early 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that Nelson Chamisa was appointed illegally as the head of the MDC-A, paving the way for Thokozani Khupe to assume leadership. She proceeded to recall MPs and councilors aligned to Nelson Chamisa and replaced them with her supporters. With the power of the courts and police behind her, she was able to take over party property, assets, symbols, and government symbols.
Nelson Chamisa formed the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in January. Before the by-elections, the CCC (seen as a threat by the ruling party) suffered instances of repressions and violence. Riot police tear-gassed, assaulted, and arrested its supporters. The party also had to obtain several court orders after the police banned their rallies.
Stay In the Loop with Export Portal
In the world of international trade, it’s vital to stay on top of current events. For more information on how countries are currently faring, make sure to check out the rest of our blogs!
Comments 1