Zimbabwe: 2008 Post-election - the partial recount

Updated 8 May 2008

See also Zimbabwe Election Support Network 2008 "ZESN Observes Votes Recounting", 25 April, [www] http://www.zesn.org.zw/publications/publication_178.doc [MS Word document] (accessed 29 Apr 2008).

The Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) alleged widespread irregularities and fraud in the count of the vote and demanded a recount in 16 constituencies, but later increased the number to 22 (Guma 2008; Veritas 2008a). In General Notice 58A/2008 (12 April 2008) the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC 2008) ordered a recount of the Presidential, House of Assembly, Senatorial and local authority ballots elections in 23 constituencies on 19 Apr 2008. This is also the last day an which a presidential second round should be held in terms of the Electoral Act (Muleya 2008). The recount was ordered by the ZEC on the basis of section 67A of the Electoral Act.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) launched a court application for an order that would declare a recount illegal; the High Court ordered a halt to the recount while it considered the matter (Muleya 2008). The hearing of the MDC's petition to declare a recount of the votes illegal was postponed from 16 to 17 April 2008, and then again to 18 April (Mafaro 2008; Sibanda 2008). On the 18 April the MDC's petition was dismissed and the partial recount in 23 constituencies commensed on the 19 April (Veritas 2008b; New York Times 2008).

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) undertook to send observers to observe the recount (Mbola 2008). According to Veritas (2008b): "Candidates, their election agents and accredited observers are entitled to be present. The press has reported that about 50 SADC observers will be deployed".

The constituencies that are being recounted are (Veritas 2008a):

  • In Manicaland Province: Buhera South, Chimanimani West and Mutare West.
  • In Mashonaland East Province: Goromonzi East.
  • In Mashonaland West Province: Zvimba North.
  • In Masvingo Province: Bikita South, Bikita West, Zaka West, Chiredzi North, Masvingo Central, Masvingo West, Gutu Central, Gutu North and Gutu South.
  • In Matabeleland North Province: Lupane East.
  • In Matabeleland South Province: Bulilima East
  • In Midlands Province: Zhombe, Silobela, Gokwe-Kabuyuni, Mberengwa East, Mberengwa West, Mberengwa North and Mberengwa South.

On the storage of the ballot boxes and papers, on which the recount was based, Veritas (2008b) said: "There has also been concern expressed about whether there could be tampering with ballot papers in view of the lack of transparency about storage of ballot papers". The MDC continued to maintain that the recount was illegal and that, in terms of the Electoral Act, the declaration of the winner of an election by a constituency elections officer could only be overturned by the Electoral Court (Veritas 200b). The MDC further alleged that the material on which the recount was based had been tampered with and that the recount had been rigged to overturn MDC electoral victories and supply ZANU-PF with a majority in the National Assembly (Musgrave 2008).

The partial recount proceeded slowly. By 26 April the recount of 18 of the 23 constituencies was completed and, although small differences from the original tallies emerged, the original winners of the House of Assembly and Senate constituencies were confirmed (Veritas 2008c). The results of the recounts of other five constituencies were announced on 30 April; once more the original winners of the House of Assembly and Senate constituencies were confirmed (IRIN 2008).

Following the recount five presiding officers were charged with failing to account for some of the votes cast and were given fines varying from $12 billion and $30 billion or jail terms of between three and 16 months (ZESN 2008, 4).

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).

GUMA, L 2008 "Judge defers ruling on MDC demand for election results", SW Radio Africa, 6 April, [www] http://www.swradioafrica.com/news060408/judge060408.htm [opens new window] (accessed 17 Apr 2008).

IRIN 2008 "Zimbabwe: I'll show you mine if you show me yours", [www] http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=77979 [opens new window] (accessed 30 Apr 2008).

MAFARO, W 2008 "MDC election petition further delayed", ZimOnline, [www] http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=3052 [opens new window] (accessed 17 Apr 2008).

MBOLA, B 2008 "Zimbabwe: Delegation to Observe Election Recount", allAfrica.com, 18 April, [www] http://allafrica.com/stories/200804180277.html [opens new window] (accessed 21 Apr 2008).

MULEYA, D 2008 "Showdown As MDC Goes for Broke", allAfrica.com, 15 April, [www] http://allafrica.com/stories/200804150001.html [opens new window] (accessed 15 Apr 2008).

MUSGRAVE, A 2008 "Zimbabwe: Slow Recount Being Rigged, Claims MDC", allAfrica.com, 21 April, [www] http://allafrica.com/stories/200804210020.html [opens new window] (accessed 21 Apr 2008).

NEW YORK TIMES 2008 "Election Officials in Zimbabwe Begin Partial Recount of March Vote", 20 April, [www] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/world/africa/ 20zimbabwe.html?_r=1&ref=africa&oref=slogin [opens new window] (accessed 21 Apr 2008).

SIBANDA, T 2008 "Court delays vote recount hearing - yet again", SW Radio, 17 April, [www] http://www.swradioafrica.com/news170408/court170408.htm [opens new window] (accessed 18 Apr 2008).

VERITAS 2008a "Bill Watch 15/2008", 12 April 2008, Legal Brief, [www] http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20080415110254562 [opens new window] (accessed 19 May 2008).

VERITAS 2008b "Bill Watch 16/2008", 18 April 2008, Legal Brief, [www] http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20080421091639861 [opens new window] (accessed 19 May 2008).

VERITAS 2008c "Bill Watch 17/2008, 26 April 2008, Legal Brief, [www] http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20080429101830766 [opens new window] (accessed 19 May 2008).

ZEC 2008 "Notice of Vote Recount - General Notice 58A of 2008", 12 April, [www] http://www.kubatana.net/docs/legisl/vote_recount_gn58a_080412.pdf [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 21 Apr 2008).

ZESN 2008c "Post-Election Update No 1, 30 March to 7 May 2008", [www] http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/postelect070508.htm [opens new window] (accessed 8 May 2008).