Zimbabwe parliamentary elections, 2005

Parliamentary elections were held in Zimbabwe on March 31, 2005. All of the 120 elected seats in the 150 seat parliament were up for election. (In addition, there are 20 members appointed by the President and ten elected by the traditional chiefs, who mostly support the government. Electoral colleges for the election of 10 chiefs to the parliament will be held on April 8.)

Related Topics:
Zimbabwe - March 31 - 2005 - April 8

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The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front party (ZANU-PF) of President Robert Mugabe won the elections with an increased majority against the opposing Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). ZANU-PF won 78 seats to the MDC's 41, with one independent. (At the 2000 elections, the ZANU-PF won 62 seats to the MDC's 57). According to the Zimbabwe Election Commission, ZANU-PF polled nearly 60% of the vote, an increase of 11% over the 2000 results. The MDC's vote fell 9 percent to 39 percent.

Related Topics:
Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front - Robert Mugabe - Movement for Democratic Change - 2000 elections - Zimbabwe Election Commission

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ZANU-PF will now have a two-thirds majority in the legislature, allowing the government to change the Constitution to allow Mugabe to run for President again. Mugabe, 81, has said he will retire in 2007.

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As the results became clear the MDC denounced what it called "the sham elections," which it said had been marked by massive electoral fraud. "The elections cannot be judged to be free and fair," an MDC statement said. "The distorted nature of the pre-election playing field and the failure to address core democratic deficits precluded a free and fair election." The MDC claimed it would have won 90 seats if the vote had been free and fair.

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A detailed account of the MDC's allegations of electoral fraud can be seen at the MDC website. Sokwanele, a Zimbabwean underground pro-democracy movement, also released a report entitled ?What happened on Thursday night?. Their report focusses specifically on the time after voting until results were announced.

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Full constituency results of the elections can be seen at Adam Carr's Electoral Archive.

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