IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Zimbabwe

Republic of Zimbabwe

16,320,540
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2022)

6,623,511
Registered Voters (as of Aug. 26, 2023)

52.33%
Average Turnout

18
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.270
Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Autocracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: May 13, 1991

SIGI Score: N/A

CRPD Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: Sept. 23, 2013

HDI* Score: 0.598
Category: Medium
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Zimbabwean Senate		Upper House
Zimbabwean National Assembly		Lower House
Zimbabwean Presidency	None	Head of State & Government

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017)
Head of Government: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017)
Assembly: bicameral Parliament with an 80-seat Senate and a 270-seat National Assembly

Description of electoral system:

The President is directly elected by absolute majority vote in up to two rounds and may serve an unlimited number of 5-year terms.
In the Senate, 60 members are directly elected via proportional representation vote in multi-seat constituencies (provinces). An additional 16 members are indirectly elected by regional councils, while 2 seats are reserved for people with disabilities and 2 are reserved for chiefs of the National Council. All members serve 5-year terms.
In the National Assembly, 210 members are directly elected by plurality vote in single-seat constituencies. The remaining 60 seats are filled by women directly elected via proportional representation vote. All members serve 5-year terms.

Elections

2023-08-23 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Presidency
Votes 4,561,221
Registered 6,623,511
Turnout 68.86

2023-08-23 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Senate
Votes -
Registered 6,619,690
Turnout -

2023-08-23 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean National Assembly
Votes -
Registered 6,619,690
Turnout -

2018-07-30 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Presidency
Votes 4,775,640
Registered 5,524,188
Turnout 86.45

2018-07-30 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean National Assembly
Votes 4,650,821
Registered 5,695,936
Turnout 81.65

2018-07-30 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Senate
Votes -
Registered 5,524,188
Turnout -

2013-07-31 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Senate
Votes 3,377,276
Registered 5,874,115
Turnout 57.49

2013-07-31 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean National Assembly
Votes 3,377,276
Registered 5,874,115
Turnout 57.49

2013-07-31 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Presidency
Votes 3,480,047
Registered 5,874,115
Turnout 59.24

2013-03-16 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 3,316,082
Registered 5,934,768
Turnout 55.88

2008-06-27 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Presidency
Votes 2,514,750
Registered 5,934,768
Turnout 42.37

2008-03-29 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Presidency
Votes 2,537,240
Registered 5,934,768
Turnout 42.75

2008-03-29 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean National Assembly
Votes 2,424,808
Registered 5,612,464
Turnout 43.2

2008-03-29 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Senate
Votes 2,406,478
Registered 5,612,464
Turnout 42.88

2005-11-26 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Senate
Votes 631,347
Registered 3,239,574
Turnout 19.49

2005-05-31 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean National Assembly
Votes 2,696,670
Registered 5,658,624
Turnout 47.66

2002-03-09 | Status: Held
Zimbabwean Presidency
Votes 2,998,758
Registered 5,049,815
Turnout 59.38

2000-02-12 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,312,738
Registered 6,500,000
Turnout 20.2

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Zimbabwean Presidency	2023-08-23	Held	4,561,221	6,623,511	68.86
Zimbabwean Senate	2023-08-23	Held	-	6,619,690	-
Zimbabwean National Assembly	2023-08-23	Held	-	6,619,690	-
Zimbabwean Presidency	2018-07-30	Held	4,775,640	5,524,188	86.45
Zimbabwean National Assembly	2018-07-30	Held	4,650,821	5,695,936	81.65
Zimbabwean Senate	2018-07-30	Held	-	5,524,188	-
Zimbabwean Senate	2013-07-31	Held	3,377,276	5,874,115	57.49
Zimbabwean National Assembly	2013-07-31	Held	3,377,276	5,874,115	57.49
Zimbabwean Presidency	2013-07-31	Held	3,480,047	5,874,115	59.24
Referendum	2013-03-16	Held	3,316,082	5,934,768	55.88
Zimbabwean Presidency	2008-06-27	Held	2,514,750	5,934,768	42.37
Zimbabwean Presidency	2008-03-29	Held	2,537,240	5,934,768	42.75
Zimbabwean National Assembly	2008-03-29	Held	2,424,808	5,612,464	43.2
Zimbabwean Senate	2008-03-29	Held	2,406,478	5,612,464	42.88
Zimbabwean Senate	2005-11-26	Held	631,347	3,239,574	19.49
Zimbabwean National Assembly	2005-05-31	Held	2,696,670	5,658,624	47.66
Zimbabwean Presidency	2002-03-09	Held	2,998,758	5,049,815	59.38
Referendum	2000-02-12	Held	1,312,738	6,500,000	20.2

Voter Turnout

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