Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe, Volume I: The 2023 Election and Beyond

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
1 Introduction: The Electoral Terrain in Zimbabwean Politics
Introduction
Zimbabwean Political and Electoral Terrain
Unfulfilled Electoral Promises: Not yet Uhuru!
Part I: Electoral Environment in Zimbabwean Politics (2–6)
Part II: Language, Politics, and Elections in Zimbabwe (7–12)
Part III: Electoral Institutions and Human Rights in Zimbabwean Politics (13–16)
Conclusion
References
Part I Electoral Environment in Zimbabwean Politics
2 Pre and Post Election Conflicts in Zimbabwe: The Way Forward
Introduction
History of Conflicts in Pre-Colonial and Colonial Zimbabwe
Conflicts in Post-Independence Zimbabwe
The Role of Schools in Promoting Democratic Space
Codes of Conduct in Primary Schools and the Development of Democratic Spaces
Lessons from Other Countries on the Role of the School in Nurturing Democratic Values
Centre-to-Periphery Framework
Periphery-Centre Framework
Class Level
School Level
School–Community Partnership Level
Approaches to Presentations
Exit Skills
Conclusion
References
3 Cordoning off the Debris of Electoral Violence and Generative Hegemony in Zimbabwean Politics: Spying on the 2023 Harmonised Elections
Introduction
Background
An Overview of the Politicisation of the Zimbabwean Mainstream Media and the Emergence of Citizens Journalism
Participatory Politics Through Facebook
Research Method and Corpora
Theoretical Grounding
Critical Discourse Analysis
Contrastive Overview of the 2018 Harmonised Elections and the 26 March 2022 by-Elections
Analysis
Findings and Conclusion
References
4 The Semiotics of Political Schisms and Prospects of Nation-Rebuilding: “Varakashi 4ED” and the “Nerrorists”
Introduction
Mbembe’s Political Thought and Halliday’s Socio-Semiotics
The Varakashi Phenomenon
Varakashi 4ED Versus Nerrorists: Dialectical Relations and Counter-Discursive Terrain
Varakashi4ED Masvingo Province Tweets
Tweets from Nerrorists Self-Renamed Varakashi 4CCC
Dialectics of 2023 Elections Embedded in Tweets’ Multi-Semiotic Codes
Conclusion
References
5 Voting: Bliss or Blisters? The Zimbabwean Experience
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
The Mixed-Utility Theory of Vote Choice Regret: An Overview
Pre-election Campaigning
Posters Used for Campaigning in Zimbabwe
The Post-election Period
Post-election Language
Post-election Period Practices
Post-election Results Announcement
Opposition Parties
Ruling Party
Conclusion
References
6 ‘Shifting the Voting Burden to Others’: Abstainers and Turn Outers in Zimbabwean Elections
Introduction
Theoretical Perspectives on Participation and Voter Behaviour
Zimbabwe’s Election History: A Reason to Stay Away from Voting
Turnout and Participation in Elections
Voter Perceptions on Electoral Malfeasance
Intimidation and Political Violence
Effect of Mobilising Structures on Voter Turnout
Government Responsiveness
Distrust in State Institutions
Habituation and Socialisation
Propaganda and Turnout
Negating the Civic Duty
Conclusion
References
Part II Language, Politics and Elections in Zimbabwe
7 The Interaction of Language and Politics: Polysemanticism in the Aphorism ‘We Died for This Country, so We Will Rule Zimbabwe Forever’
Introduction
Multi-Perspectival Conceptual Field: Critical Linguistics, Political Discourse Analysis and Cognitive Metaphor Theory
Zimbabwe’s Historiography Used as Political Ammunitions or a Memory Retention?
Blood and Death Insignia: Metaphorisation and Polysemantic Signification
Change in Crisis or ‘Crisis of Change’ in Zimbabwe
‘Riding on the Croc’: Can It Be a Benevolent Gallop for the Nation?
Concluding Remarks
References
8 Stoking the Flames of Conflict in Zimbabwe’s Electoral Terrain: Detecting and Reporting Hate Speech in Online Media
Introduction
Background
Literature Review
Problems in Defining Hate Speech
Hate Speech and Journalistic Ethics
Hate Speech and the Law
Framing Theory, Slanting the News
Critical Discourse Analysis
Findings
Categories of Hate Speech
Hate Speech—The Offenders and Victims
See no Evil, Hear no Evil
Othering Political Opponents
Inflammatory and Intimidating Hate Speech
Stoking Flames of Hate Speech
Conclusion
References
9 Hate Speech Within the Electoral Political Processes in Zimbabwe
Introduction
The Constitution of Zimbabwe on Fundamental Human Rights
Why and How Hate Speech Is Dangerous
Blame Game and Retaliatory Hate Speech
Online Disinformation and Hate Speech Are Rife in Zimbabwe
Language of Purging Off the Opposition
Hate Speech Against Religious Leaders: Mediating the Menu of Manipulation
Gendered Hate Speech
Hate Speech in Songs
Critical Reflections
Conclusion
References
10 The “New Old Dispensation”: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Selected ZANU PF Speeches in the Post-Mugabe Era and Implications on Zimbabwe’s Electoral Process
Introduction
Conceptual Framework
Zimbabwe’s Toxic Political Environment
Discussion
Death Threats to Members of the Opposition Parties
Disrespect of Constitutionalism
Sabotaging Opposition on Service Delivery
The Opposition as a Puppet Movement for Regime Change
Conclusion
References
11 Shona Language as a Tool in Winning Political Support During Campaigning: A Case for Buhera South in Zimbabwe
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
Research Methodology
Findings
Speeches by Political Candidates During Campaigning Rallies
Metaphors
Euphemisms
Proverbs
Pronouns
Exaggerations
Plain Folks
Discussion
Conclusion
References
12 Political Poetic/Theatrical Campaigning Pieces in Indigenous Languages in Rural Communities: The Case of Bikita District in Masvingo, Zimbabwe
Introduction
Background to the Study
Purpose of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Significance of the Study
Delimitation
Theoretical Framework
Brief Review of Related Literature
Research Methodology
Research Findings: Data Presentation, Analysis, Discussion and Interpretation
Theme 1: The Content and Discourse of the Slogans Used for Campaigning in the Run-up to the 2023 Harmonised Elections in Zimbabwe
ZANU-PF
CCC
Theme 2: Implications for Ethics and Professionalism
ZANU-PF
CCC
Theme 3: Implications for Peace and Nation Building in Zimbabwe in the Context of Unhu/ubuntu
ZANU-PF
CCC
Theme 4: Political Players’ Accountability for the Content and Discourse of Their Campaign Slogans
ZANU-PF
CCC
Theme 5: Possibility of Harnessing the Slogans into Prototype and Registered Knowledge for Campaigning During Other Political Elections
ZANU-PF
CCC
Conclusions
References
Part III Electoral Institutions and Human Rights in Zimbabwean Politics
13 Adjudication of Presidential Election Disputes in Zimbabwe: A Case of Chamisa v Mnangagwa
Introduction
Democracy and Electoral Justice
The Judiciary’s Involvement in Electoral Dispute Adjudication
The Zimbabwean Legal Framework for Electoral Dispute Resolution for Presidential Elections
Presidential Election Dispute Challenges in Zimbabwe: The Case of Chamisa v Mnangagwa
Evidentiary Requirements for Presidential Election Petitions Set in Chamisa v Mnangagwa
Is There Hope for Future Elections?
Conclusions and Recommendations
References
14 The Judiciary and Electoral Disputes in Zimbabwe’s Contemporary Politics
Introduction
The Separation of Powers and Functions of the Judiciary in a Democratic System
Judicial Independence
Zimbabwean Electoral Disputes and the Mediation of the Judiciary
Jurisdiction for Electoral Disputes and Appeals
A Sample of Election Disputes in Zimbabwe
The Margaret Dongo Case
The Priscilla Misihairabwi Case
The Fidelis Mhashu Case
The Morgan Tsvangirai Case
The Madzingo Case
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Case
The Jealous Mawarire Case
The Justice Mavedzenge Case
The Gabriel Shumba Case
The Gift Machona Konjana Case
Conclusion and Recommendations
References
15 Political Dialectics and the Role of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in Elections
Introduction
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
Realism Theory
Social Reconstruction Theory
Methodology and Scope
Discussions: Voter Education
Voter Registration
Results Management System: Tallying, Transmission and Declarations of Results
Temporary Workers
Lack of Objectivity
Manipulation by Government and Security Officers
Lack of Fusion Between Election Administration, Electoral Cycle and Electoral Governance
Conclusions
Recommendations
References
16 Electoral Laws, Reforms, Transparency and the Credibility of Elections in Zimbabwe
Introduction
Electoral Systems
The First Past the Post (FPTP) System
Proportional Representation (PR) Systems
Mixed Systems
Election Management in Zimbabwe
The Evolution of the Electoral Laws from Independence to 2022
The Zimbabwean Governance Structure
The Current Zimbabwean Electoral Laws
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)
General Electoral Regulations
The System for the Presidential Elections
The Electoral System for the National Assembly Seats and Local Authority Elections
The Electoral System for Senate Seats
The Electoral System for Provincial Councils
The Electoral System for the Women’s Quota Seats in the National Assembly
Some Sticking Points in the Current Electoral Laws
Conclusion and Recommendations
References
Index