The Menu of Electoral Manipulation in Zimbabwe

Food Handouts, Violence, Memory, and Fear - Case of Mwenezi East and Bikita West 2017 by-elections

Bibliographic Data

ID2308639
AuthorsGift Mwonzora (0000-0002-5690-7977, Rhodes University), Edknowledge Mandikwaza (0000-0002-4269-734X, Durban University of Technology)
Year2019
Volume54
Issue8
Pages1128-1144
Publication date2019-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Asian and African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9096 • E-ISSN: 1745-2538
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0021909619862595
OpenAlexW2962278686
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited25

Scholars have long been interested in investigating why and how ruling parties manipulate elections in Africa and elsewhere. Despite the importance of such a subject, much remains unknown about the role of incumbents in strategically manipulating electoral processes and outcomes in by-elections in particular. Debate rages on as to whether ruling parties rely exclusively on coercive methods or, in addition, make use of non-repressive methods. In seeking to contribute to addressing this matter, we draw upon a case study of two by-elections held in 2017 in rural constituencies in Zimbabwe, namely Bikita West and Mwenezi East. Our research involved evidence gleaned through personal observations, review of grey literature and personal reflections. Our study established that competitive authoritarian regimes as found in Zimbabwe combine both methods when manipulating by-elections. However, we show that there has been a shift away from heavy reliance on organised acts of naked political violence on the part of the ZANU-PF ruling party since the disputed 2008 elections and in the subsequent 2013 and post-2013 by-elections. Thus, there appears to be an inclination towards the use of subtle methods, including patronage, assisted voting, use of traditional leadership and appealing to the rendition of past violence. Nonetheless, even these methods impinge on the credibility of not only by-elections but also national elections in Zimbabwe

Authoritarianism · Credibility · Democracy · General election · Political economy · Political science · Political violence · Politics · Sociology · Voting · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics · Political Conflict and Governance · Law