Zimbabwe: Senate reconstitution and composition

Updated May 2008

The Senate, which formed part of the Lanchester House Agreement, was abolished in September 1987, but was reconstituted in by the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 17) Act 2005 enacted on the 30th of August 2005 (Lodge et al 2002, 435). In the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 18) Act 2007 the Senate composition was altered.

Composition in 2005

The Senate was structured as follows (Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 17) Act 2005):

  • Fifty members were elected on a provincial basis in first-past-the-post constituency elections, with each of the ten provinces returning five members.
  • Eight chiefs from the non-metropolitan provinces were chosen by electoral colleges of chief for each province.
  • The President and Deputy-President of the Council of Chiefs were ex-officio members.
  • The president was entitled to nominate six members.

Composition after 2007

The Senate was structured as follows (Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 18) Act 2007):

  • 60 are elected by universal adult franchise from single member plurality constituencies, 6 from each of 10 provinces.
  • The 10 provincial governors, who are appointed by the incoming President, are ex officio members.
  • The President and Deputy President of the Council of Chiefs, elected by the Council of Chiefs, are ex officio members.
  • 16 chiefs are elected by Provincial Assemblies of Chiefs in each of the 8 non-metropolitan provinces, two are elected by each Provincial Assembly.
  • 5 members are directly appointed by the incoming President.

Term of office

The term of the Senate is 5 years and is concurrent with that of the president and the House of Assembly.

References

CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE AMENDMENT (NO 17) ACT 2005, [www] http://www.kubatana.net/docs/legisl/constitution_zim_amd17_050825.doc [Word document] (accessed 21 May 2008).

CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE AMENDMENT (NO 18) Act, 2007, [www] http://aceproject.org/regions-en/eisa/ZW/Constitution%20of%20Zimbabwe%20Amendment% 20No%2018%20Act%2C%202007.pdf [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 10 Mar 2010).

LODGE, T, KADIMA, D & POTTIE, D (eds) 2002 Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa, EISA, 378.