Zimbabwe: 90 Days after the elections

Following the June 2000 elections, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) made significant gains, particularly in urban areas and Matabeleland, though ZANU-PF retained a slim majority. Despite these results, the document argues that the MDC lacks real legislative power. Economically, Zimbabwe faces a severe crisis characterized by hyperinflation, a contracting GDP, and a budget deficit reaching 16.9% of GDP. The government's 'fast track land resettlement programme' is identified as a primary driver of economic instability, threatening the commercial farming sector and risking mass impoverishment. The appointment of Simba Makoni as Minister of Finance was initially seen as a positive sign, but his efforts are undermined by President Mugabe's continued commitment to farm seizures and military intervention in the Congo.

• The June 2000 parliamentary elections saw the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secure 57 of 120 contested seats, while ZANU-PF won 62. The MDC dominated urban centers, winning all 19 seats in Harare and all eight seats in Bulawayo.
• ZANU-PF lost its previous two-thirds majority in parliament, meaning it can no longer unilaterally force constitutional changes.
• Zimbabwe's economic situation deteriorated sharply by late 2000, with the budget deficit revised to 16.9% of GDP and average annual inflation rising to 59% compared to 35% in the previous budget cycle.
• The 'fast track land resettlement programme' aims to settle 150,000 families on 5 million hectares of land within two months, but it threatens to destroy the commercial farming sector, which produces Z$45 billion of produce annually and employs 335,000 people.
• The Zimbabwean government's military intervention in the Congo has caused significant financial strain, costing an estimated US $200 million to US $500 million in foreign exchange.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicated that external financial assistance is unlikely unless there is a change in leadership and key policies, specifically calling for land reform to be conducted in an 'orderly and transparent manner'.

APA

Cornwell, R. (2000). Zimbabwe: 90 Days after the elections. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper46.pdf

Chicago

Cornwell, Richard. Zimbabwe: 90 Days after the elections. Institute for Security Studies, 2000. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper46.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cornwell |first1=Richard |title=Zimbabwe: 90 Days after the elections |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=October 2000 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper46.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cornwell2000zimbabwe, author = {Cornwell, Richard}, title = {{Zimbabwe: 90 Days after the elections}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2000}, month = oct, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper46.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }