| John Landa Nkomo ( M) |
| Austin M. Zvoma ( M) |
Parliament of Zimbabwe
Box CY 298, Causeway
HARARE
Tel.: (2634) 70 0181-9, 25 29 36-50, 25 99 34
Fax: (2634) 25 29 35 (Clerk), 25 29 48, 70 89 25
70 89 22
E-mail: clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
Telex: 24064 ZIMPAR ZW
| http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/ |
Vacancies are filled through by-elections held 14 to 28 days after the vacancy is officially recorded.
Voting is not compulsory.
- Zimbabwean citizenship
- registration within the constituency
- residence in an electoral constituency
- disqualifications: absence from voting constituency for more than one year, insanity or mental deficiency, incapacity to manage own affairs, conviction for electoral offence.
- age: 21 years old at the time of registration
- Zimbabwean citizenship
- residence in the country for at least 5 years in the 20 years preceding the elections
- members of the defence forces or certain members of the reserve police force
- persons holding unpaid office (other than allowances)
- deposit of Z$2 million, reimbursed if the candidate withdraws from the election prior to an election poll, or if he or she is elected or obtains at least 20 % of the number of votes cast for the successful candidate in the constituency
- support by 10 to 20 electors of the same constituency
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
In the elections to the House of Assembly held in March 2005, the ruling ZANU-PF had won 78 of the 120 directly-elected seats. The MDC, established in 1999 and led by Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, had taken 41 seats. The MDC had been divided over whether to participate in the Senate elections held in November 2005. MDC President Tsvangirai called for a boycott of the election, while its Secretary General, Mr. Welshman Ncube, decided to participate in the vote. The final results had given 43 of the 50 directly elected seats to the ZANU-PF and the remainder to the MDC. Following the elections, MDC members who had advocated participation in the election formed a new faction, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-AM), under the leadership of Mr. Arthur Mutambara.
In the 2008 elections, 12 political parties and 119 independent candidates were vying for the seats in parliament. There were 779 candidates, including 99 women, for the House elections, and 199 candidates, including some 60 women, for the Senate.
The poll was held against the backdrop of an economic catastrophe, with an annual inflation rate exceeding 100,000 per cent in February 2008. Only 20 per cent of adults reportedly have regular jobs. Widespread shortages of basic foodstuffs are a daily occurrence for Zimbabweans across the country. As many as 4 million of the country's 12 million inhabitants have reportedly fled the county.
President Mugabe promised to rebuild the country's economy by investing more in agriculture and increasing urban and rural district councils' control over the economy. He pledged to "defend" his country against the West.
The MDC campaigned on a platform of economic stabilization, restoration of law and order and constitutional changes. It pledged to tackle unemployment and boost the economy. MDC leader Tsvangirai criticized Mr. Mugabe's anti-Western rhetoric, accusing him of trying to divert people's attention from the country's real problems. Mr. Tsvangirai insisted that the voters' list for the 2008 election included thousands of ghost voters, thereby hampering free and fair elections.
In the presidential elections, President Mugabe was challenged by Mr. Tsvangirai and former finance minister, Simba Makoni, who stood as an independent candidate with the backing of the MDC-AM. Although the local media reported that Mr. Makoni's participation might split the ZANU-PF's votes, only former Interior Minister Dumiso Dabengwa announced his support for Mr. Makoni prior to the elections. On 10 March, General Constantine Chiwenga, Commander-in-Chief of Zimbabwe's Defence Forces, threatened to overturn the constitutional order if President Mugabe lost the elections.
Turnout was reportedly high among the 5.6 million registered voters.
Observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) expressed several concerns over the election process. The mission nevertheless concluded that the voting was a "peaceful and credible expression of the will of the people". However, two mission members from South Africa refused to sign the statement, insisting that the poll had been "deeply flawed". Observers from the Pan-African Parliament said more than 8,000 non-existent voters were registered in one Harare constituency. The European Union, which had concluded that the 2002 presidential elections had been rigged, the Commonwealth, as well as other Western observers, were not allowed to observe the elections.
Tension mounted as the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission delayed the announcement of the final results.
The MDC became the largest party in the House, winning 99 of the 207 confirmed seats. The ZANU-PF, which took 97 seats, lost control of the House for the first time since independence. Seven incumbent ministers were voted out. The MDC-AM took ten seats. One independent candidate was elected. The ZANU-PF remained the largest party in the Senate with 30 seats. The MDC and the MDC-AM won 24 and six seats respectively.
Both President Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai claimed victory in the presidential elections. On 3 April, the MDC filed a High Court application to compel the Electoral Commission to release the final election results. On 14 April, the High Court rejected the MDC's appeal, upholding the Electoral Commission's explanation that it was investigating irregularities in some of the voting districts. The Court concluded that the Electoral Commission could therefore "justify the delay". The final results had not been published by 19 April, the constitutional deadline for holding a run-off vote for the presidential elections.
On 2 May, the presidential election results were finally announced. Neither candidate passed the 50 per cent threshold to be elected in the first round.
Violence was rife prior to the run-off presidential elections scheduled for 27 June. Mr. Tsvangirai said 86 MDC supporters had been killed and 200 000 displaced from their homes. On 22 June, Mr. Tsvangirai withdrew from the run-off blaming election related violence and fraud. UN Security Council unanimously condemned the violence and intimidation against the MDC. The election commission nevertheless conducted the run-off elections and declared Mr. Mugabe's re-election. On 29 June, he was sworn in for a sixth term.
Elections to fill the three vacant seats in the House were held in parallel with the presidential run-off. The final results gave 100 seats to the MDC, 99 to the ZANU-PF, ten to the MDC-AM, and one to an independent.
| Round no 1 (29 March 2008): Election results | ||||
| Number of registered electors | 5'605'204 | |||
| Voters | ||||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | ||||
| Valid votes | ||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) | 1'036'696 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZANU-PF | 1'110'649 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-AM) | 206'739 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independents | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | Number of women | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) | 100 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZANU-PF | 99 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-AM) | 10 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independents | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Reuters
- www.newzimbabwe.com
In all, 28 women (17 from the ZANU-PF and 11 from the MDC) were elected to the House.
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament, incapacity
- after Members are sworn in
- absolute majority is required
- the Secretary to Parliament supervises the voting
- the Secretary to Parliament announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is president ex officio of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and the Parliamentary Library Committee
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
- official car
- secretariat
- body guards
- domestic staff
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
The Leader of the House:
- opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up - selects which amendments are to be debated
- appoints the Clerk with the approval of the House
- appoints Internal Arrangements Committee
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- issues a certificate to the President of the Republic indicating that the constitutional procedures have been complied with
· Procedure (S. 124 to 137 of the Electoral Act)
· Procedure (S. 41 (1) (c) of the Constitution): notice in writing to the Speaker or to the Secretary to Parliament
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Speaker
- Loss of mandate for absence (S. 41 (1) (d) of the Constitution)
- Conviction for certain offences (S. 41 (1) (m) and 43 of the Constitution)
(b) Loss of mandate by judicial decision:
- Sentence to death or imprisonment (S. 41 (1) (l) and 42 of the Constitution)
- Electoral offences (S. 41 (1) (p) of the Constitution, Electoral Act)
- Mental health/incapability of managing own affairs (S. 41 (1) (n) and (o) of the Constitution)
(c) Death (S. 41 (1) (a) of the Constitution)
(d) Resignation from membership of a political party (S. 41 (1) (e) of the Constitution)
(e) Loss of mandate for incompatibilities (S. 41 (1) (f) to (k) of the Constitution)
(f) Preventive detention (S. 41 (1) (q) of the Constitution)
· Basic salary (for the Speaker, see S. 45 of the Constitution)
· No exemption from tax
· Pension scheme (see also SO 157 of the Standing Orders (Public Business): pensionable service 15 years, pensionable age 55 years
· Other facilities:
(a) Assistants (see S. 48 of the Constitution)
(b) Telephone services
(c) Travel and transport
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: offence or insult (SO 72 of the Standing Orders (Public Business); see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (S. 41 (1) (d) of the Constitution): loss of mandate
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: Parliament
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning for irrelevance (SO 71 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Call to order (SO 71 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Order to discontinue the speech (SO 71 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Order to withdraw (SO 73 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Naming and suspension (SO 73 (2), and 74 to 76 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Adjournment of Parliament, suspension of the sitting (SO 79 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (SO 72 of the Standing Orders (Public Business)): call to order, order to present apologies, other disciplinary measures
- Contempt of Parliament in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House (SO 77 of the Standing Orders (Public Business)): committal, reprimand or admonition, suspension, expulsion (penal jurisdiction)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (SO 69 of the Standing Orders (Public Business)):
- Warning for irrelevance, call to order, order to discontinue the speech, order to withdraw, naming, adjournment of Parliament, suspension of the sitting, offence or insult: the Speaker
- Suspension, offence or insult, contempt of Parliament in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House: Parliament
· Procedure:
- Warning for irrelevance, call to order, order to discontinue the speech (SO 71 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Order to withdraw (SO 73 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Naming and suspension (SO 73 (2), and 74 to 76 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Adjournment of Parliament, suspension of the sitting (SO 79 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Offence or insult (SO 72 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
- Contempt of Parliament in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House (SO 77 of the Standing Orders (Public Business))
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct:
- Suspension, with loss of remuneration, expulsion (S. 41 (1) (m) and 43 (1) of the Constitution, SO 78 of the Standing Orders (Public Business); conviction for certain offences)
- Loss of mandate (S. 41 (1) (q) of the Constitution; preventive detention)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Suspension, with loss or remuneration, expulsion: Parliament
. Procedure:
- Suspension, with loss of remuneration, expulsion (S. 41 (1) (m) and 43 of the Constitution, SO 78 of the Standing Orders (Public Business); conviction for certain offences)
- Loss of mandate (S. 41 (1) (q) of the Constitution; preventive detention)
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
General Information | Electoral System
Last Elections | Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate | Parliamentary Oversight
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