Zimbabwe: 2008 Presidential candidates

Updated February 2008

In terms of the Electoral Act (section 110) the president must be elected by an absolute majority of valid votes. Should no candidate obtain a majority a run-off must be held within 21 days between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

The Nomination Court sat on 15 Feb 2008 and four candidate nominations were accepted (Veritas 2008; ZESN 2008):

• Simba Stanley Herbert Makoni - Independent
• Robert Gabriel Mugabe - Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)
• Langton Towungana - Independent
• Morgan Tsvangirai - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)

Note: According to a report by Constantine Chimakure (2008) in the Zimbabwe Independent the candidature of Simba Makoni (Independent) will be supported by the Arthur Mutambara led faction of the Movement for Democratic Change.

The Nomination Court rejected the following four nominations (ZESN 2008):

• Daniel Shumba - United People's Party (late submission)
• Abel Ndlovu - Peace Action Freedom for All (late submission)
• William Gwata - Christian Democratic Party (inadequate documents submission)
• Advocate Justin Chihota (inadequate documents submission)

References

ELECTORAL ACT (CHAPTER 2:13), incorporates all amendments until 17 March 2008, [www] http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZW/zimbawe-electoral-act-2008 [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 30 May 2008).

VERITAS 2008 "Bill Watch 7/2008", 16 February.

ZESN 2008 "Pre-election Update No. 4: NOMINATION COURT UPDATE", 18 February.

CHIMAKURE, C 2008 "Makoni, Mutambara forge alliance" IN Zimbabwe Independent, 19 February, [www] http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/index.php?option= com_content&view=article&id=9676:makoni-mutambara-forge-alliance&catid=31:local- zimbabwe-stories&Itemid=66 [opens new window] (accessed 30 May 2008).