Covert and overt electoral patterns : what strategies can be deployed to arrest pre-and post-electoral violence in Zimbabwe?

Abstract

This paper presents and analyses suggested strategies to arrest pre-and postelectoral violence dynamics in Zimbabwe. The suggestions were gathered from the 20 provincial party chairpersons of the two major political parties in Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC - T). The suggestions of five representatives of the major civil society organizations that are based in Harare are also included in this write up. The research was carried out using indepth interviews. The period under synthesis is from 1999 when the MDC was formed up to depose Mugabe by the New Dispensation in November 2017. The sole aim of this research is to contribute to strategies for sustainable, peaceful, free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. To achieve this aim, the research gathered and analysed data from some of the key players in Zimbabwe elections who offered various insights into what needs to be done to arrest electoral violence dynamics that persistently plague the country's electoral landscape. Findings that emerge from the research as strategies to arrest pre- and postelectoral violence dynamics are repeal of draconian legislation, demilitarization of elections, observation of elections by the UN and AU, the SADC disallowing Mugabe to steal elections, presence of observers on the ground well before and after elections, preaching of peace by party leaders and reform of electoral bodies. This paper concludes that for Zimbabwe to have sustainable, peaceful, free and fair elections in future, the strategies raised in this research should be adopted in their entirety.