2013 Zimbabwean general election

• Robert Mugabe, ZANU–PF[7]
• Welshman Ncube, MDC-N[8]
• Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC-T[9]
• Dumiso Dabengwa, ZAPU[10]
• Kisinoti Mukwazhe (also spelt Kisnot Mukwazhi), ZDP.[11] Candidacy later withdrawn.[12][13]

Most of Zimbabwe's 2010 districts had candidates from all of the three major parties: ZANU–PF, one of the two formulations of the MDC, and ZAPU. Minor party candidates and independents rounded out the field in some districts.

During the campaign, party regalia was supplied by the two main political parties in huge quantities. MDC-T supporters wore red apparel,[20] whilst ZANU–PF supporters wore a variety of colours borrowed from the national flag.[21]

Allegations were made in 2011, that a third of registered voters were dead or aged 120 (in a country with a life expectancy of 44).[22] These accusations were repeated in 2013, with the additional claim that a considerable number of young voters had not been registered.[23] The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), a local observer group with 7,000 monitors, listed a litany of offences, including state media bias, a campaign of intimidation in rural areas, and the rushed electoral process before key reforms to the security services were in place. But the most effective measure was tampering with the electoral rolls. Held back until the day before the election – thus avoiding proper scrutiny – the roll revealed an estimated one million invalid names, including many deceased voters. It excluded up to one million real ones, mostly in urban areas where MDC support is strongest.[24]

On the day of the elections, one of Zimbabwe's electoral commissioners resigned. In his resignation letter, Mkhululi Nyathi of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission wrote, "I do not wish to enumerate the many reasons of my resignation, but they all have to do with the manner the Zimbabwe 2013 harmonised elections were proclaimed and conducted."[25]

The Electoral Commission later reported that approximately 305,000 voters were turned away from polls, with an additional 207,000 voters being "assisted" in casting their ballots.[26] There were also more than 100,000 centenarian ghost voters on the electoral roll.[27]

On 9 August 2013, the Movement for Democratic Change sought to have the results declared null and void.[28] A week later they withdrew their petition.[29] Despite their withdrawal the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe ruled that the election was "free, fair and credible".[30]

Two independents were elected, both of whom had failed to win the ZANU–PF nomination for their constituencies.[34]

Party		Votes	%	Seats
				Common	Women	Total
	ZANU–PF	2,143,804	63.16	159	37	196
	MDC–Tsvangirai	1,015,513	29.92	49	21	70
	MDC–Ncube	155,669	4.59	0	2	2
	Zimbabwe African People's Union	19,235	0.57	0	0	0
	Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn	6,703	0.20	0	0	0
	FreeZim Congress	1,405	0.04	0	0	0
	ZANU–Ndonga	1,350	0.04	0	0	0
	United Movement for Democracy	1,315	0.04	0	0	0
	Alliance Khumbula Ekhaya	536	0.02	0	0	0
	Multi-Racial Christian Democrats	868	0.03	0	0	0
	Progressive and Innovative Movement of Zimbabwe	351	0.01	0	0	0
	Freedom Front	200	0.01	0	0	0
	Congress for True Democracy	147	0.00	0	0	0
	Zimbabwe Development Party	145	0.00	0	0	0
	People's Democratic Union	76	0.00	0	0	0
	Zimbabwe People's Movement	70	0.00	0	0	0
	Voice of the People	38	0.00	0	0	0
	Independents	46,611	1.37	2	0	2
Total		3,394,036	100.00	210	60	270
Source: Psephos, CLEA, Psephos

The elections were called a "huge farce" by Tsvangirai who said the country was "in mourning" about the results. He claimed over a million voters were turned away from the polling stations, and said the Movement for Democratic Change would no longer work with Mugabe nor participate in government institutions.[32][35] He promised to fight the results in court and diplomatically.[32]

• African Union – The African Union declared that the elections were "free, honest and credible."[36]
•  Botswana – The government of President Ian Khama has called for an audit of the election results and the Foreign Minister, Phandu Skelemani, has stated that "various incidents and circumstances were revealed that call into question whether the entire electoral process, and thus its final result, can be recognised as having been fair, transparent and credible."[37]
•  Mozambique – President Armando Guebuza demanded that the elections be a topic of the 2013 SADC Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi.[38]
•  Mauritius – The Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, congratulated President Mugabe and expressed his view that ZANU–PF's victory will usher in a new era of prosperity and peace for Zimbabweans.[39]
•  Namibia – President Hifikepunye Pohamba congratulated Mugabe and Zimbabwe for holding free and peaceful elections and stated to Mugabe: "The people of Zimbabwe have once again demonstrated their trust and confidence in the Zanu PF and your personal leadership."[40]
•  South Africa – President Jacob Zuma congratulated Mugabe for securing a seventh term in office. A statement was issued by the South African Foreign Ministry saying: "President Zuma urges all political parties in Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the elections as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people."[41]
•  SADC – The Southern African Development Community called the election "free and peaceful" but reserved judgement on its fairness. On 15 August, it apologised for calling the elections credible in spite of evidence that there were many irregularities.[42]
•  Australia – The Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, was critical of the election stating: "These appear to have disenfranchised large numbers of voters and raised doubts about the credibility of the election results. Given our doubts about the results, Australia calls for a re-run of the elections based on a verified and agreed voters roll."[41]
•  European Union – The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton, said "the EU is concerned about alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation, as well as the identified weaknesses in the electoral process and a lack of transparency."[43]
•  Russia – President Vladimir Putin congratulated Mugabe on his victory and congratulated Zimbabwe for holding "peaceful and credible elections."[44]
•  United Kingdom – The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, voiced "grave concerns" about the conduct of the election. Hague said there were "serious" questions about the credibility of the election, because of irregularities both in the run-up to the ballot and on polling day.[45]
•  United States – The United States said the results were not a "credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people".[32]