Electoral Reforms: Zimbabwe Opposition’s Urgent Priority
Linked HERE to Physical Petition as handed into 10 Downing Street and e-mailed to FCDO
With the ruling ZANU PF party embroiled in internal factional battles, the political scene in Zimbabwe is approaching interesting times. Unfortunately, the opposition is focused on the fallout within ZANU PF while the most urgent issue—electoral reform—is being sidelined. Without fundamental changes to the electoral system, the next election is likely to be another manipulated process that keeps ZANU PF in power against the will of the people, whether it’s Mnangagwa or Chiwenga at the helm.
The 2023 elections once again exposed how the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) operate as an extension of ZANU PF rather than an independent election body. The opposition lost largely because of a compromised voters’ roll, which was never properly audited, making it easy for ghost voters and irregular registrations to benefit the ruling party. Gerrymandering also played a role, with constituency boundaries altered to favor ZANU PF.
State-sponsored voter intimidation was another major factor. The presence of FAZ (Forever Associates Zimbabwe), a ZANU PF-linked group that effectively acted as an extension of the intelligence services, created a climate of fear at polling stations. Many rural voters were subjected to assisted voting, where they were pressured into casting ballots for the ruling party. Reports of ballot stuffing and vote tampering were ignored by ZEC, which refused to act on any complaints raised by the opposition.
Despite overwhelming evidence of a rigged process, ZEC declared the elections free and fair, reinforcing the reality that it is not a neutral institution. The opposition must stop treating ZEC as a legitimate electoral body and instead demand its complete disbandment. There is no point in participating in elections run by an institution that is designed to keep ZANU PF in power.
For decades, ZANU PF has blocked meaningful electoral reforms because they know that a free and fair election would likely result in their removal from power. They have refused to allow independent audits of the voters’ roll, manipulated electoral laws to ensure ZEC remains under government control, and used state institutions like the police and judiciary to suppress opposition campaigns and protests. ZANU PF party has also relied on intimidation and violence to discourage voter participation, particularly in rural areas where they enforce their control through traditional leaders.
Their resistance to reform is an admission that they cannot win a democratic election without rigging. This is why the opposition must stop getting distracted by ZANU PF’s internal conflicts and instead focus on mobilizing for electoral reforms. The real fight is not about who takes over within ZANU PF—it is about ensuring that the electoral system no longer allows them to manipulate elections.
ZANU PF has been pushing for Zimbabwe’s re-admission into the Commonwealth, hoping to regain unlikely international legitimacy. However, the Commonwealth must not grant Zimbabwe this privilege without concrete electoral reforms. Re-admitting Zimbabwe without fixing its deeply flawed electoral system would be a betrayal of democratic values.
For Zimbabwe to rejoin, there must be a new independent electoral body to replace ZEC, along with a transparent and audited voters’ roll. The security forces and ZANU PF-aligned groups like FAZ must be removed from the electoral processes to prevent voter intimidation. The opposition must also have equal access to state media, which has been monopolized by the ruling party for decades. International election observers must be allowed full access to monitor every stage of the election process, from voter registration to the final announcement of results.
The Commonwealth and other international organizations must take a firm stance. If Zimbabwe wants to be accepted back into the global community, it must prove its commitment to democracy through genuine electoral reforms. Without these changes, any future election will be nothing more than a predetermined outcome designed to maintain ZANU PF’s grip on power.
The opposition must wake up to the reality that ZANU PF’s internal struggles will not automatically result in a free and fair election. The real issue is not who replaces Mnangagwa within ZANU PF—it is about dismanting the fraudulent electoral system that has kept the party in power for decades. Electoral reforms must be the number one priority before the next election, and the international community must not reward ZANU PF’s authoritarianism by re-admitting Zimbabwe into the Commonwealth without meaningful changes. If these reforms are not implemented, the 2028 (2030 if Mnangagwa gets his wish) election will be another farce, and the people of Zimbabwe will once again be denied their democratic rights.