By Munyaradzi Mugomeza| The 2023 elections in Zimbabwe were a grim reminder of the country’s unrelenting descent into authoritarianism.
Emmerson Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF orchestrated a sham process that brazenly subverted the will of the people. Through vote rigging, manipulation of electoral figures, political violence, and coercion at the grassroots level, the regime ensured its continued stranglehold on power.
Saddeningly, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc that should have been a beacon of accountability, proved itself to be a toothless entity—a “big boys club” of liberation movements that turned a blind eye to the glaring irregularities.
This election was not a democratic exercise but an assault on Zimbabwe’s collective aspirations for a fair and just society. Mnangagwa’s declaration as the winner was not a reflection of the people’s choice but the culmination of a calculated and deeply corrupt scheme to maintain ZANU-PF’s dominance.
Vote Rigging and Manipulated Figures
At the heart of the stolen election was the deliberate rigging of votes and manipulation of figures.
Reports of inflated voter rolls, ghost voters, and discrepancies in polling station tallies were widespread. Election observers, including some from SADC, noted irregularities, such as suspiciously high voter turnout in ZANU-PF strongholds and inexplicable delays in releasing results.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which is constitutionally mandated to oversee free and fair elections, acted as an extension of ZANU-PF.
Instead of ensuring transparency, the ZEC facilitated fraud by withholding voter roll data, obstructing opposition agents, and altering vote tallies.
The announcement of Mnangagwa’s victory, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, was a clear indication that the election outcome had been predetermined.
Political Violence and Intimidation
Political violence, a hallmark of ZANU-PF’s electoral strategy, was rampant in the lead-up to the 2023 elections. Opposition supporters were harassed, beaten, and in some cases killed for daring to challenge the regime. The Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) and its leader, Nelson Chamisa, bore the brunt of this violence, as rallies were disrupted, activists arrested, and communities terrorized by state-sponsored militias.
The military, police, and intelligence services were deployed not to protect citizens but to suppress dissent. The regime used these institutions to create a climate of fear, ensuring that voters either stayed away from the polls or cast their ballots for ZANU-PF under duress.
Village Headmen as Agents of Coercion
In rural areas, ZANU-PF weaponized traditional structures to secure votes. Village headmen were coerced into acting as agents of the regime, tasked with conducting headcounts and ensuring their subjects voted for Mnangagwa. These headmen, under threat of losing their positions or access to government aid, became enforcers of ZANU-PF’s agenda.
Villagers were threatened with losing food aid, farming inputs, and other essentials if they were perceived as opposition supporters. The use of food insecurity as a political weapon underscores the regime’s disregard for human dignity and its willingness to exploit the most vulnerable for political gain.
A Complicit and Toothless SADC
While Zimbabweans suffered under this fraudulent process, SADC, which had a mandate to ensure credible elections in the region, failed spectacularly. Initially, SADC observer missions flagged serious concerns about the electoral process, including media bias, voter suppression, and irregularities in the handling of election results.
However, when the time came to hold Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF accountable, SADC faltered. The bloc, dominated by liberation movements that see ZANU-PF as a kindred spirit, chose solidarity over principle. Instead of standing with the people of Zimbabwe, SADC leaders endorsed the election results, perpetuating the culture of impunity that has long plagued the region.
SADC’s failure to act decisively has cemented its reputation as a “big boys club” of liberation movements—a body more concerned with protecting its members than upholding democracy. This complicity not only betrays Zimbabweans but undermines the credibility of the region as a whole.
The Stashing of Votes: A Pre-orchestrated Outcome
In the days following the election, reports emerged of ballot boxes being stuffed with pre-marked votes for Mnangagwa. Opposition agents were barred from several polling stations, particularly in rural areas where ZANU-PF has traditionally wielded unchecked influence.
Moreover, independent observers reported discrepancies between polling station figures and the final results announced by the ZEC. These stashed votes, carefully hidden and only brought out to tip the scales in Mnangagwa’s favor, exemplify the lengths to which the regime went to secure victory.
The fact that Mnangagwa was declared the winner despite these glaring irregularities is a testament to the regime’s brazen disregard for the will of the people. The election was not won; it was stolen.
The Human Cost of a Stolen Election
The ramifications of this stolen election are devastating. For ordinary Zimbabweans, the continuation of ZANU-PF’s rule means more of the same: economic collapse, rampant corruption, and political repression. The promise of a better future has been snatched away, replaced by the grim reality of living under a regime that prioritizes its survival over the welfare of the nation.
The opposition, which fought valiantly against insurmountable odds, has been left to regroup in the face of yet another defeat engineered by an entrenched system of fraud and violence. For many Zimbabweans, hope feels like a luxury they can no longer afford.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The 2023 elections were a stark reminder that Zimbabwe’s struggle for democracy is far from over. Mnangagwa’s regime, like that of his predecessor Robert Mugabe, is built on lies, intimidation, and the systematic subversion of the people’s will. Yet, history has shown that no dictatorship lasts forever.