Zimbabwean presidential election, 1996
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in Zimbabwe
on 16 and 17 March 1996. The election was contested by the incumbent Robert Mugabe
, Zimbabwe Rhodesia
-era Prime Minister
Abel Muzorewa
, and ZANU-Ndonga
leader Ndabaningi Sithole
. Mugabe won, claiming over 90% of the vote, though turnout was just 32.3%, largely as a result of Sithole and Muzorewa withdrawing their candidacies shortly before the election (though their names remained on the ballot).
Sithole (who was under virtual house arrest due to charges of attempting to assassinate Mugabe) withdrew after claiming that Mugabe's ZANU-PF was undermining his campaign, whilst Muzorewa pulled out after the Supreme Court
turned down his bid to postpone the elections on the basis that the electoral rules were unfair (as state funds were only available to parties with 15 or more seats in parliament
). In December 1997 Sithole was convicted of conspiring to assassinate Mugabe; he appealed but died whilst out on bail.
There were 4,822,289 voters registered for the election.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
on 16 and 17 March 1996. The election was contested by the incumbent Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
, Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 12 December 1979...
-era Prime Minister
Government of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
The Government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia took office on 1 June 1979 under the internal settlement negotiated between the government of Rhodesia and moderate African nationalists...
Abel Muzorewa
Abel Muzorewa
Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979...
, and ZANU-Ndonga
Zimbabwe African National Union - Ndonga
Zimbabwe African National Union – Ndonga is a small political party in Zimbabwe.The Zimbabwe African National Union was a political party during the struggle for Rhodesia's independence, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union...
leader Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU...
. Mugabe won, claiming over 90% of the vote, though turnout was just 32.3%, largely as a result of Sithole and Muzorewa withdrawing their candidacies shortly before the election (though their names remained on the ballot).
Sithole (who was under virtual house arrest due to charges of attempting to assassinate Mugabe) withdrew after claiming that Mugabe's ZANU-PF was undermining his campaign, whilst Muzorewa pulled out after the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe is the highest court of order and the final court of appeal in Zimbabwe.The judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who, like the other justices, is appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. The court consists of...
turned down his bid to postpone the elections on the basis that the electoral rules were unfair (as state funds were only available to parties with 15 or more seats in parliament
Parliament of Zimbabwe
The Parliament of Zimbabwe consists of two chambers:*The Senate *The House of Assembly...
). In December 1997 Sithole was convicted of conspiring to assassinate Mugabe; he appealed but died whilst out on bail.
There were 4,822,289 voters registered for the election.
Results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Mugabe Robert Mugabe Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980... |
ZANU-PF | 1,404,501 | 92.76% |
| Abel Muzorewa Abel Muzorewa Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979... |
United Parties United Parties The United Parties was founded in 1994 and is led by retired Bishop Abel Muzorewa. The UP is an amalgamation of Muzorewa's former party, United African National Council, and a Matebeleland and Masvingo-based faction of the Forum Party which had been formed in 1993... |
72,600 | 4.80% |
| Ndabaningi Sithole Ndabaningi Sithole Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU... |
ZANU-Ndonga Zimbabwe African National Union - Ndonga Zimbabwe African National Union – Ndonga is a small political party in Zimbabwe.The Zimbabwe African National Union was a political party during the struggle for Rhodesia's independence, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union... |
36,960 | 2.44% |
| Invalid | 43,497 | - | |
| Total (Turnout: 32.3%) | 1,557,558 | 100% | |
| Source: African Elections database | |||