This was the first time that SADC did not “fully” endorse Zimbabwe’s elections in comparison with
past elections (2013 and 2018) when the regional body declared Zimbabwe’s elections as free and
fair. The response by the ruling party Zanu PF to SADC’s preliminary elections statement exposed the
conflation of the party and the state. Zanu PF reacted on behalf of ZEC which was supposed to be
the first respondent as an independent electoral management body. The ruling party Zanu PF held
separate press briefings addressed by senior politicians Christopher Mutsvangwa and Ziyambi
Ziyambi attacking and accusing SADC of undermining the nation’s sovereignty for not endorsing the
elections as compared to previous years. The European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU)
observer missions issued their preliminary reports further reinforcing the notion by the SADC mission’s
observations that the elections were not in tandem with regional and international protocols.
SADC’s Head of Mission Dr Nevers Mumba found himself under attack from Zanu PF politicians who
accused him of acting outside his mandate and interfering with Zimbabwe’s domestic affairs.
In his address Mutsvangwa alleged that the preliminary report was an individual effort of Mumba
however the SADC mission issued a statement confirming that the report was a collective
consolidation of mission members deployed to observe the harmonised elections.
On 28 August, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Priscilla Maidei Chigumba
announced the presidential election results around 2300hrs declaring Emmerson Dambudzo
Mnangagwa as winner with 52.6%. However, the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)
party rejected the election outcome citing electoral irregularities varying from alleged vote rigging,
intimidation of the electorate by FAZ and delays in printing and distribution of ballot papers in
opposition stronghold areas of Bulawayo and Harare. The CCC party rejected Chamisa’s announced
44% of the vote citing allegations of vote rigging by ZEC in favour of Mnangagwa. The CCC party
argued that preliminary results from ward polling stations and a collation from their V11 forms was
pointing that Chamisa had received more votes than Mnangagwa including in Zanu PF stronghold
areas. This resulted in a disputed election with the CCC rejecting the election outcome, leaving the
nation divided.
The pre-election period was characterised by an increase in campaigns of political parties who
were jostling and canvassing for votes ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections. Zimbabwe’s major
political parties Zanu PF and the CCC held rallies countrywide where citizens were engaged and
acquainted with party manifestos and the promises by the prospective leaders. However, reports
indicate that people who attended Zanu PF rallies were coerced to attend by traditional leaders
and some ruling party politicians. There was systemic abuse of state resources such as Zimbabwe
United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) and school buses to ferry people to ruling party gatherings.
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