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Election Date: November 26, 2005

At stake: Senate

Background

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The former British colony of Rhodesia became independent as Zimbabwe in 1980. Robert Mugabe—who had led the struggle for sovereignty under the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) banner—became the country's first prime minister. In 1987, Mugabe amended the constitution to become president, and merged his political organization with the Patriotic Front (PF) of Joshua Nkomo to form ZANU-PF.

In February 2000, Mugabe's government faced a major crisis, as hundreds of farms owned by whites were seized by blacks who claimed the territory as their own. Mugabe later called for a public referendum to modify the constitution and extend his tenure. The electorate rejected any amendments, with a turnout of less than 20 per cent. In June, the ZANU-PF held on to power, electing 62 lawmakers to the House of Assembly. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) took control of 57 seats.

In 2002, Mugabe earned a new six-year term in a presidential election deemed as "deeply flawed" by foreign observers and human rights organizations. According to the MDC, more than 200 opposition supporters were killed during the electoral campaign.

The British Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe in March 2002, under suspicion that the presidential ballot had not been fair. Britain and the United States also imposed some economic sanctions against Mugabe's government.

More than 3.5 million people have left Zimbabwe over the past five years, seeking refuge in South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. The country's unemployment rate reaches 70 per cent according to some estimates, with 80 per cent of the population living in poverty.

In 2004, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai criticized the government-sponsored Public Order and Security Act (POSA), claiming it has affected his party's rights. In the course of eight weeks, law enforcements officers relied on the legislation to stop at least 11 political rallies. Similar public acts by ZANU-PF were not interrupted.

In March 2005, voters renewed the House of Assembly. Mugabe's ZANU-PF secured 78 seats in the 150-member legislative branch. The MDC accused the governing party of "massive electoral fraud."

Click here for 2005 Zimbabwe House of Assembly Election Tracker

From May to July 2005, the government implemented the "clean up" program. Tens of thousands of dwellings—mostly located in shanty towns—were destroyed. The United Nations (UN) estimated that close to 700,000 people were left homeless as a result of the policy.

2005 Senate Election

In August 2005, the governing Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) used its majority in the House of Assembly to pass a series of constitutional amendments, including one that reintroduces a 66-seat Senate.

The creation of a new upper house led to more divisions in the African nation's political scene. Mugabe loyalists argued that a Senate was necessary to improve legislation, while the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claims the new body was created to accommodate supporters of the current regime.

On Sept. 29, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai wrote, "From the MDC, my position as president remains unchanged. Anyone wishing to partake in this process should therefore refrain from crying foul because ZANU- PF's intentions are as clear as the September sky."

On Oct. 1, Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe announced that the upper house election would take place before the end of the year. The ZANU-PF's candidates will not be chosen in a primary ballot, but by district and provincial leaders and associations.

On Oct. 8, the Harare Herald reported that the senatorial election had been scheduled for Nov. 26. MDC Women's League chairwoman Lucia Matibenga said she favoured a boycott, declaring, "We have decided that MDC is not going to the Senate elections, that road is closed. We cannot continue to ride on ZANU-PF's gravy train."

On Oct. 12, Tsvangirai said the MDC would boycott the election, declaring, "The council resolved to stay out of the ZANU-PF Senate project." Tsvangirai said the party's council was evenly divided on how to deal with the ballot, and that he himself favoured staying out of the electoral process.

On Oct. 13, MDC spokesman Paul Themba-Nyathi contradicted Tsvangirai, declaring that the party's national council had voted 33-31 in favour of taking part in the ballot.

On Oct. 17, Tsvangirai's spokesman William Bango said the opposition leader will "visit all the provinces" in a bid to urge voters to boycott the Senate election.

On Oct. 19, the Zimbabwean government invited local observers to monitor the Senate ballot.

On Oct. 20, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)—a loose coalition of political, religious, women's and student groups—referred to the upper house ballot as "meaningless" and called for a national boycott.

On Oct. 24, at least 26 MDC members defied Tsvangirai's orders and registered to take part in the Senate election. Party spokesman William Bango expressed the leader's views, saying, "Mr. Tsvangirai's position is that whoever submitted papers does not have the blessing of the party, because the party's candidate selection procedure was not followed and the party is not contesting these elections."

Also on Oct. 24, Mugabe's ZANU-PF automatically secured 19 of the 50 seats at stake when no other parties fielded candidates in specific constituencies.

On Nov. 5, Tsvangirai renewed his call for a boycott of the Senate election, saying the MDC's national council had reversed a "purported decision" it had taken last month to take part in the ballot.

On Nov. 7, the Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) began the process of accrediting electoral observers. Local monitors require an invitation from the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, while foreign observers need an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Nov. 22, reports alleged that ZANU-PF members distributed unauthorized ballot papers in rural areas of Zimbabwe, with the intention of having voters mark them in advance and in support of the ruling party's candidates. Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) member Kennedy Zimondi said the body would investigate whether "this was indeed happening and whether it will prejudice the holding of a free and fair Senate election."

On Nov. 23, an executive order signed by United States president George W. Bush took effect, expanding the list of Zimbabwe officials under U.S. sanctions, and freezing the assets of all those deemed to be "undermining democratic processes or institutions" in the African country.

Voting took place on Nov. 26. Early results showed the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) winning all five Senate seats in the Bulawayo metropolitan province. Voter turnout in the area was tabled at less than 10 per cent. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) secured two of the five Harare province seats

MDC leader Tsvangirai said the low turnout amounted to a "vote of no confidence" in the tenure of president Robert Mugabe. Preliminary results suggest that ZANU-PF will win 21 of the 31 seats where it faced opposition.

On Nov. 29, with 31 of the 33 districts reporting—two were delayed by heavy rains—the governing party was reported to have captured a total of 58 seats.

Voter turnout was estimated at less than 15 per cent, which could probably be attributed to a combination of factors including public confusion about the purpose of the new upper house, inability of many Zimbabweans to reach to the polls due to a nationwide gasoline shortage, and Tsvangarai's call to boycott the proceedings.

The election further buttressed Mugabe's control of the government not only because the Senate—which critics charge is but a means to reward party loyalists with sinecures—can veto bills passed in the lower house, but because the process has left the opposition deeply, perhaps irrecoverably, divided.

Final results gave the ZANU-PF control of 43 of the 50 elected seats, with seven going to the MDC.

Political Players

President: Robert Gabriel Mugabe - ZANU-PF

The president is elected to a six-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The House of Assembly has 150 members; 120 are elected to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies, and 12 members are appointed. Eight provincial governors and 10 traditional chiefs complete the legislature. The Senate will have 66 members, 50 members will be elected to five-year terms—five from each of the country's 10 provinces—plus 10 traditional chiefs and six members appointed by the president.

Results of Last Election:

President - Mar. 9 and Mar. 11, 2002

House of Assembly - Mar. 31, 2005

Senate - Nov. 26, 2005

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