General elections were held in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008 to elect the president and Parliament. Because of Zimbabwe's dire economic situation, the elections were expected to provide incumbent President Robert Mugabe with his toughest electoral challenge to date. Mugabe's opponents were critical of the handling of the electoral process, and the government was accused of planning to rig the election. Human Rights Watch said that the election was likely to be "deeply flawed.""Mugabe accused of election-rigging plan", CNN, 23 March 2008. The elections were characterized by violence.

No official results were announced for more than a month after the first round.MacDonald Dzirutwe, "Zim heads for run-off", Reuters (IOL), 2 May 2008. The failure to release results was strongly criticised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which unsuccessfully sought an order from the High Court to force their release. An independent projection placed its leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the lead, but without the majority needed to avoid a second round, whilst the MDC declared that Tsvangirai won a narrow majority in the first round and initially refused to participate in any second round."Zimbabwe opposition rejects run-off" , Al Jazeera, 10 April 2008. After the recount and the verification of the results, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced on 2 May that Tsvangirai won 47.9% of the vote and Mugabe 43.2%, necessitating a run-off, which was to be held on 27 June 2008."Zim run-off set for 27 June", Sapa-Associated Press (IOL), 16 May 2008. Despite Tsvangirai's continuing claims to have won a first round majority, he decided to participate in the second round."Zimbabwe MDC accept run-off vote" , Al Jazeera, 10 May 2008."Tsvangirai to run in second round", BBC News, 10 May 2008. The period following the first round was marked by political violence. ZANU–PF and the MDC each blamed the other's supporters for perpetrating the violence; Western governments and prominent Western and human rights organisations blamed ZANU–PF for the violence. On 22 June 2008, Tsvangirai announced that he was withdrawing from the run-off, describing it as a "violent sham" and saying that his supporters risked being killed if they voted for him.Angus Shaw, "Zimbabwe opposition leader pulling out of election", Associated Press, 22 June 2008. The second round of elections went ahead with Mugabe as the only actively participating candidate, although Tsvangirai's name remained on the ballot."UN impasse irks Zimbabwe opposition", Al Jazeera, 28 June 2008. Mugabe won the second round by an overwhelming margin and was sworn in for another term as president on 29 June."Mugabe begins new term as criticism of one-man election mounts", AFP, 29 June 2008."Zimbabwe: President Mugabe Wins Run-Off, Sworn in", The Zimbabwe Guardian (allAfrica.com), 29 June 2008."President Sworn in, Appeals for Unity", The Herald (allAfrica.com), 30 June 2008.

In the parliamentary elections, ZANU–PF lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since independence in 1980, as the two factions of the MDC won most of the seats;"Mugabe's Zanu-PF loses majority", BBC News, 2 April 2008 a month after the election, the MDC factions merged."Zimbabwe’s MDC factions reunite" , SABC News, 28 April 2008."Opposition reunites in Zimbabwe", BBC News, 28 April 2008.

Background In late 2006 a plan was proposed that would have delayed the elections to 2010, at the same time as the next parliamentary election, which was said to be a cost-saving measure. This would have lengthened President Mugabe's term by two years."Mugabe set to rule until 2010", IRIN, 14 December 2006. However, there was reportedly dissent within the ruling ZANU–PF regarding the proposal, and it was never approved. In March 2007, Mugabe said that he thought the feeling in the party favoured having the presidential election in 2008, and moving the parliamentary election up by two years instead. He also said that he would be willing to stand for another term if chosen by the party."Mugabe ready for 2008 elections", DPA (IOL), 12 March 2007. On 30 March 2007, it was announced that the ZANU–PF Central Committee had chosen Mugabe as the party's candidate for another term in 2008, that presidential terms would be reduced to five years instead of six, and that the parliamentary election would also be held in 2008."Zimbabwe's Mugabe to stand in 2008 poll", Reuters (Sydney Morning Herald), 31 March 2007. Later, information was leaked from the same meeting that ZANU–PF had adopted the position of making Mugabe president-for-life."ZIMBABWE: ZANU-PF wants to make Mugabe president for life", IRIN, 30 July 2007.

On 25 January 2008, the date of the election was announced as 29 March. A spokesperson for the faction of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai denounced this as "an act of madness and arrogance","'Mugabe has slapped Mbeki's efforts'", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 25 January 2008."Zimbabwe sets March date for poll", BBC News, 25 January 2008. while the leader of the other MDC faction, Arthur Mutambara, said that a free and fair election could not be held under the existing conditions, calling for a new constitution to be adopted prior to the election. Talks between the MDC and ZANU–PF collapsed following the announcement of the election date; the MDC had wanted the dialogue to affect the election, while ZANU–PF wanted to hold the election on schedule in March and for any changes agreed in the talks only to take effect afterwards.Celean Jacobson, "Harare dialogue is dead – MDC", Sapa-Associated Press (IOL), 22 February 2008.

Electoral system

President An amendment to the Electoral Act in 2005 meant that this was the first time a presidential candidate was required to win a majority of the vote, introducing a second round if necessary.Dumisani Muleya, "Zimbabwe: Mugabe 'Could Be Swept Away' If Forced Into Run-Off", Business Day, Johannesburg (allAfrica.com), 21 February 2008.

There were about 5.9 million registered votersBayano Valy, "Zimbabwe: 'Look East' Policy Pays Dividends – President", The Herald (allAfrica.com), 27 March 2008. and about 11,000 polling stations,Angus Shaw, "Opposition demand electronic voters' roll", Sapa-Associated Press (IOL), 18 March 2008. compared to about 4,000 polling stations in the 2005 parliamentary election. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network said that there were insufficient polling stations in urban areas, where the opposition is considered stronger, while the availability of polling stations was better in rural areas, where ZANU–PF is considered stronger. According to the Electoral Commission, it planned to deploy 107,690 polling officers to oversee voting.

The Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Notice 2008, published on 17 March, declared 29 March to be a public holiday. This was accompanied by the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of Electoral Act) (No. 2) Regulations, 2008, which allows police to enter polling stations."Zim election day declared a holiday", Sapa (IOL), 18 March 2008. This ended a previous law, put in place in 2007 as a result of talks between ZANU–PF and the MDC, that required police to stay 100 meters away from polling stations.Nelson Banya, "Opponent says Mugabe abusing power for votes", Reuters (IOL), 21 March 2008. The regulations amended Sections 59 and 60 of the Electoral Act, providing for electoral officers and police officers to assist illiterate voters (in the case of Section 59) and physically incapacitated voters (in the case of Section 60). The change was criticised by Tsvangirai and Makoni.Simba Makoni, "Some of these measures are aimed at stealing the election.", Zimbabwe Independent, 27 March 2008

Other changes agreed upon in the talks between ZANU–PF and the MDC included the posting of results outside of polling stations and the provision that, if state television aired any candidate's advertising, then it had to also air advertising from other candidates. Security laws that could be used to prevent MDC rallies were also moderated."Top MDC official calls Mbeki a 'drunkard'" , newzimbabwe.com, 15 April 2008. The new rules also stipulated that presidential results may only be announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission."'Police keen to interview Biti'", The Herald (allAfrica.com), 1 May 2008.

Parliament The House of Assembly was expanded from 150 to 210 members, all elected, in the 2008 election, while the Senate expanding to 93 seats, 60 of which were directly elected (six from each province). There were 29 constituencies in Harare, 28 in Midlands, 26 in Manicaland, 18 in Mashonaland Central, 23 in Mashonaland East, 22 in Mashonaland West, 26 in Masvingo, 13 in Matabeleland North, and 13 in Matabeleland South, and 12 in Bulawayo. Unlike in previous elections, when constituency voter rolls were used, ward voter rolls were used in the 2008 election. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission delimited 1,958 wards."Zimbabwe: Debunking West's Propaganda", The Herald (allAfrica.com), 28 February 2008.

Prior to the election being held, ZANU–PF won two seats where it was unopposed: the House of Assembly seat from Muzarabani South, won by Edward Raradza, and the Senate seat from Rushinga, won by Damien Mumvuri."Zimbabwe: Hungwe Wins Chivi-Mwenezi Election Re-Run", The Herald (allAfrica.com), 28 February 2008. Three candidates of the MDC faction led by Mutambara died prior to the election, resulting in the elections for those seats being delayed. Glory Makwati, a candidate in the Gwanda South constituency, died in late February; this was followed on 29 February by the death of Milton Gwetu, the MP for Mpopoma, who was running for re-election."Gwanda South, Mpopoma polls to be postponed" , newzimbabwe.com, 4 March 2008. On 13 March, Abednico Malinga, another MP of the MDC Mutambara faction who was standing as a candidate, died in a car crash. He had represented Silobela constituency in the House of Assembly and was running in 2008 as a candidate in Redcliff constituency.Tichaona Sibanda, "MDC MP Malinga dies in car crash" , newzimbabwe.com, 13 March 2008.

Campaign

Presidential candidacies

In 2006, ZANU–PF National chairman John Nkomo was one of the first to announce he would be ready to contest the election for ZANU–PF if Mugabe chose to retire.Peta Thornycroft, "Zimbabwe's Nkomo Announces His Candidacy for President" , VOA News, 27 November 2006. Abel Muzorewa, the only prime minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, suggested on 21 June 2007 that he might run, claiming that people were urging him to do so."Zimbabwe: Muzorewa Plots Political Comeback", New Zimbabwe (allAfrica.com), 21 June 2007. However, Mugabe was chosen by acclamation as ZANU–PF's presidential candidate for the 2008 election by delegates at a December 2007 party congress. John Nkomo said that he "did not hear any dissenting voices" and that the congress had "fully and unreservedly" backed Mugabe."Mugabe to run again for Zanu-PF", BBC News, 13 December 2007.

Talks to unite the two MDC factions behind the candidacy of Tsvangirai, the leader of the main faction, broke down on 3 February 2008. Mutambara apologised to the people for this failure, while Tsvangirai said that unity could not be imposed by force."Zimbabwe opposition fail to unite", BBC News, 5 February 2008. Analysts viewed the opposition's failure to unite as making Mugabe's re-election a near-certainty, although Tsvangirai, while expressing regret, said that he believed the opposition still had "a fighting chance" of victory."Opposition now 'mince-meat' for Zanu-PF", AFP (IOL), 6 February 2008.