Zimbabwe: Beyond Election Day 2013

The document examines the 2013 Zimbabwean elections, highlighting concerns from SADC and the AU regarding the short voter-registration period and the lack of an electronic voters' roll. It argues that the political climate, marked by state media bias and partisan security forces, suggests a high likelihood of electoral fraud and a subsequent political deadlock, as neither Zanu-PF nor the MDC-T are expected to accept a result they perceive as illegitimate.

• Regional bodies, including SADC, expressed significant concerns regarding the electoral process, specifically the 'awfully short' voter-registration period and the failure to release the voters' roll in electronic form as required by law.
• The political environment preceding the July 31, 2013, polls was characterized by partisan security forces and a persistent pro-Zanu-PF bias within state media.
• The author predicts a political impasse following the election, noting that the MDC-T is likely to claim the election was rigged and Zanu-PF is unlikely to accept defeat.
• The African Union (AU) and SADC are criticized for being too indulgent toward President Robert Mugabe and for validating a flawed process by sending electoral observers despite expressing concerns about the timeline.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2013). Zimbabwe: Beyond Election Day 2013. https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-beyond-election-day-2013/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Zimbabwe: Beyond Election Day 2013. 2013. https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-beyond-election-day-2013/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Zimbabwe: Beyond Election Day 2013 |date=2 August 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-beyond-election-day-2013/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2013zimbabwe, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Zimbabwe: Beyond Election Day 2013}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-beyond-election-day-2013/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }