A Year of Checks on Ballots

This report provides a state-by-state overview of scheduled and potential elections across several African nations in 2008, noting a general trend where incumbents face little threat from fragmented oppositions, though some countries are experiencing significant leadership transitions.

• Across several African nations, incumbent leaders seeking re-election generally face minimal threats due to weak or fragmented opposition parties.
• Significant leadership transitions are occurring in Namibia and Mozambique as liberation-era leaders Sam Nujoma and Joaquim Chissano have committed to stepping down.
• In South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) is expected to win the April 14 election easily, with the primary uncertainty being the size of its parliamentary majority and its strength in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
• Malawi is transitioning to a new leader as President Bakili Muluzi is set to retire after serving the maximum two terms, with Bingu wa Mutharika as his chosen successor.
• Mozambique is identified as having one of the potentially closest contests of the year following the retirement of President Joaquim Chissano, as the ruling Frelimo party fields Armando Guebuza against Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). A Year of Checks on Ballots. https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-of-checks-on-ballots/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. A Year of Checks on Ballots. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-of-checks-on-ballots/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=A Year of Checks on Ballots |date=28 April 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-of-checks-on-ballots/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008year, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{A Year of Checks on Ballots}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-of-checks-on-ballots/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }