Zimbabwe

National Assembly

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
30 Jul 2018
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake
270
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates
1,631
Number of male candidates
1,391
Number of female candidates
240
Percentage of women candidates
14.7%

Results

About the election

The ruling ZANU-PF retained its majority in both chambers of parliament in the first election after the resignation of long-serving President Robert Mugabe in November 2017 (see note 1). His successor, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) narrowly defeated MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa (see note 2) in a presidential poll. The MDC Alliance, which became the second largest force in both chambers of parliament, filed a court case for alleged voting irregularities. On 24 August, the Supreme Court upheld the election results, paving the way for Mr. Mnangagwa to be sworn in.

During the election campaign, the major parties focused on the economy. ZANU-PF promised to open up the country for business, promote investment, create jobs and fight corruption. The MDC Alliance promised economic emancipation of the people and the creation of a “socially just, democratic, transformative state”.

Note 1:

Mr. Mugabe, 93, who had ruled the country as its President since since 1987, resigned shortly after Parliament started an impeachment procedure against him on 21 November 2017. The move followed the President’s dismissal of the then Vice President Mnangagwa. The military subsequently placed Mr. Mugabe under house arrest. ZANU-PF then appointed Mr. Mnangagwa as its interim president at a special committee meeting in which Mr. Mugabe was fired and his wife Grace was expelled from ZANU-PF for life.

Note 2:

The MDC Alliance, formed in August 2017, comprises the following seven political parties: Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Zimbabwe People First, Transform Zimbabwe, Multi-Racial Christian Democracy (MCD) and Zanu Ndonga. Mr. Chamisa succeeded the long-time opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who passed away in February 2018.

Number of parties winning seats
4
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
66.7%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
ZANU-PF

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total Majority Women seats
ZANU-PF 180 145 35
MDC-Alliance 87 63 24
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) 1 0 1
National Patriotic Front (NPF) 1 1 0
Independents 1 1 0
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
185
Number of women elected
25
Percentage of women elected
11.9%
Women Directly Elected
25
Women in other categories
60
Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
185
Total number of women after the election
85
Percentage of women after the election
31.5%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
11 Sep 2018

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Jacob F. Mudena (Male)
Date of birth: 1946
Political party
ZANU-PF
Date of election
11 Sep 2018

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No