Zimbabwe's political landscape shifts as ruling party seizes control in controversial by-elections

In a controversial turn of events, Zimbabwe is set to witness nine crucial by-elections this Saturday where the ruling ZANU-PF party is positioned to secure a supermajority without facing any main opposition candidates.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa solidifies his grip on the mineral-rich nation amid a growing political crisis that erupted when opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs had their seats declared vacant.

The crisis unfolded as courts ruled on Thursday and Friday to bar all CCC contenders from standing in the upcoming votes, setting the stage for an apparent walkover for ZANU-PF.

Experts suggest that, barring a Supreme Court intervention, the ruling party could exploit this opportunity to gain more seats, bringing them closer to potentially altering the constitution.

Professor Nic Cheeseman of the University of Birmingham in Britain noted, “The overall effect of this in terms of undermining any hope for Zimbabwe of democracy right now is very clear.”

The turmoil traces back to a letter penned by Songezo Tshabangu, a little-known politician claiming to be the CCC’s interim secretary-general.

This letter, addressed to the ZANU-PF parliamentary speaker, led to the declaration of 15 CCC lawmakers’ seats as vacant, sparking the need for the by-elections.

ZANU-PF spokesperson Farai Marapira denied the party’s involvement in causing the crisis, attributing it to an “irresponsible opposition” that is “selfish and self-imploding.”

In Mabvuku, a Harare suburb where one of the by-elections was scheduled, signs of voter apathy were evident.

A resident, Gladmore, expressed, “I won’t be surprised if ZANU-PF wins. People are just tired, so we can just wait and see.”

As the CCC voices its intention to appeal the court decisions, uncertainties loom over the electoral process. CCC elections secretary Ian Makone raised concerns about the packing up of tent voting stations, suggesting a potential uncontested victory for the ZANU-PF candidate.

ZANU-PF, currently 10 seats away from a two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution, is speculated to seek changes that could eliminate the two-term presidential limit.

This move could enable Mnangagwa, 81, to counter challenges to his leadership.

Analysts express concerns over Zimbabwe’s democratic trajectory, with critics arguing that Mnangagwa’s leadership has become increasingly autocratic.

Hopes for a more democratic path, foreign investment, and economic improvement have waned, accompanied by legislative measures to suppress dissent and allegations of compromised judicial independence.

International observers previously criticized the democratic standards of the August election, and the CCC has raised complaints of intimidation against its members.

The political infighting within the CCC, marked by Tshabangu’s controversial letters seeking control and recalls, adds further complexity to Zimbabwe’s political landscape.