ZIMBABWE POLITICAL TIMELINE
● 1980: Zimbabwe gained independence from British rule and ZANU political party leader, Robert Mugabe, became the first Black prime minister of Zimbabwe.
● 1987: Amendments to Zimbabwe’s Constitution created the new role of Executive President and gave Robert Mugabe power to run for office for an unlimited period of terms. This amendment effectively made Zimbabwe a de facto one-party authoritarian-ruled state.
● 1990s: Though Mugabe won elections in March 1990, according to Human Rights Watch, these elections were accompanied by intimidation of opposing parties and manipulation through government-controlled media. Throughout the 1990’s, the economy sharply contracted and was met with civil resistance, workers strike, and growing discontent with the government.
● 1999: The economic crisis in Zimbabwe worsens and the opposing political party, MDC, is formed and led by Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
● 2002: Despite the MDC’s attempts, Mugabe is re-elected through elections that were neither free, nor fair. During this election cycle many opponents were assassinated through state-sanctioned violence.
● 2008: Tsvangirai (MDC) gains the parliamentary majority vote in March 2008 but in the presidential runoff elections in June 2008, Mugabe is declared the winner after Tsvangirai withdraws due to state violence under Mugabe’s rule which made free and fair elections impossible.
● 2013: Mugabe gains a seventh term leading Zimbabwe despite reports of unfair election.
○ The nation came together for the constitution making process which resulted in the writing and adoption of the new constitution which was adopted in May 2013. This process can be seen in the award-winning film Democrats.
● 2017: Mugabe resigns days after the military takes control as part of a coup coordinated by former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa becomes the president of Zimbabwe.
● Early 2018: The first post-Mugabe election is held.
○ February 2018: Opposition candidate Tsvangirai dies of cancer. Nelson Chamisa takes the place of Tsvangirai and becomes the presidential candidate for the MDC Alliance, running against Mnangagwa.
○ July 30, 2018: The election takes place. At two p.m. the results stop coming in. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) delays announcing the results of the presidential election (suspected rigging taking place)
○ August 1, 2018: People protest because of the delayed announcement of the results. Protestors chant, “Please protect my vote” and six civilians are killed by the army in the streets of Harare.
○ August 2, 2018: The ZEC announces the results and declares Mnangagwa the winner.
○ August 2018: The MDC Alliance goes to court to argue that Mnangagwa's victory should be overturned due to fraud, but despite all of the data and stories the MDC Alliance has collected and presented, the court rejects the opposition’s plea to annul the election results. The constitutional court declares Mnangagwa the duly elected president of Zimbabwe.
● Post-Election 19 September 2018: The Motlanthe Commission of enquiry was set by the government to probe the post-election violence that left 6 people dead after the July 30, 2018, elections. Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe was appointed the Chairman of the commission by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
○ The commission submitted an executive report to Emmerson Mnangagwa on 29 November 2018 (detailed report: https://www.veritaszim.net/node/3616 ) The report has a number of recommendations for changes. Mnangagwa sets up a Task Force, consisting of a number of ministers from his government and the head of ZEC, Judge Priscilla Chimumba.
● Early 2020: world pandemic hits Zimbabwe. A national lockdown enforced; many lives lost due to lack of health services.
○ Around May 2020; The Government of Zimbabwe uses lockdown to close the democratic space. No political activity was allowed at the time.
○ Increased repression, many opposition activists were abducted, tortured, and jailed for protesting for citizens welfare.
● Jan 2022: Citizens Coalition for change is formed, led by Nelson Chamisa
○ 19 sections of the Zimbabwean Constitution were amended
● 2023: National election 23rd August 2023
KEY ISSUES
● Civic engagement
● Unfair elections, voter suppression, and State violence
● Authoritarian Regimes
● Voting rights and legitimacy
● Nationalism and citizenship rights
● Human rights and violence
● Community resistance
● Political corruption, violence, and power
● Grassroots political organizing, activism and mobilizing community
● The key principles of democracy (freedom of expression, independent judiciary, independent election authorities)
● The building of democratic institutions in an undemocratic environment
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
ZIMBABWE’S INDEPENDENCE AND THE POLITICS OF DEMOCRACY
On April 18, 1980, the Republic of Zimbabwe gained independence from British colonial rule. Robert Mugabe served as prime minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017. Mugabe’s presidency was marked by controversy, rigged elections, and violence against his political opponents. Mugabe resigned from his post in response to political and military pressure organized by Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mugabe’s resignation symbolized hope for a new beginning for Zimbabwe that centered the people—as evidenced by scenes of Zimbabweans cheering in the streets upon his resignation to illustrate their enthusiasm for change. Mnangagwa took over Mugabe’s role as president of Zimbabwe.
The political story of Zimbabwe is one of corruption and hope for democratic change. After Mugabe stepped down, the opposition leader of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change), Morgan Tsvangirai, was seen as the favorite to win the first post-Mugabe election. Tsvangirai energized crowds with promises of no more violence and support for human rights. Unfortunately, Tsvangirai passed away four months before the 2018 presidential election. Nelson Chamisa stepped in and took over as the presidential candidate of the opposition. President Mnangagwa assured the people of Zimbabwe that a peaceful, fair, and transparent election would take place in 2018. The two main candidates were Chamisa (MDC) and Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF).
GETTING TO KNOW NELSON CHAMISA: THE “PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT”
At the time of this film’s development, Nelson Chamisa was a 40-year-old lawyer who had been fighting the regime of former president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe since he was a student activist. He had been fighting physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally for a new Zimbabwe for most of his life. In the film, Zimbabweans admirably call him “Mr. President” and the best hope for the country. Chamisa built incredible momentum for the 2018 election with little financial resources. Some people doubted him because of his age. But he did win people over with his charisma, by connecting with them at intense rallies, and with his honesty. During the course of the film, Chamisa shows himself to be a leader who can navigate systems and structures despite disruption and corruption (i.e., illegal ballot printing, death threats, and the murders of innocent people). Chamisa handles these upsets with grace and calm while remaining steadfastly dedicated to a free and fair election by any means necessary. When he was said to have lost the 2018 Zimbabwe election, The MDC challenged the election result in Zimbabwe’s constitutional court. However, despite the overwhelming evidence of voting irregularities, the judges, who were appointed by the ZANU-PF regime, ended up handing power to Emmerson Mnangagwa.
After long-running government harassment of the MDC, Chamisa later abandoned the MDC and now runs a new political party, the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC). He continues to fight tirelessly for a democratic Zimbabwe and the will of the people.
Zimbabwe was one of the last African countries to become independent from Britain and then was governed by the same leader and political party from 1980 to 2017. President illustrates how this recently independent country is hungry for change at a pivotal time and the efforts required of Chamisa and other leaders to liberate the people of Zimbabwe from the corrupt ruling party. The next election will take place in August 2023, and Nelson Chamisa is running again under the CCC banner.