1996 Zimbabwean presidential election

Presidential elections was held in Zimbabwe on 16 and 17 March 1996. The elections were contested by the incumbent President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe Rhodesia-era Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa, and ZANU–Ndonga leader Ndabaningi Sithole. Mugabe won, claiming over 90% of the vote, though turnout was just 32.3%, largely as a result of Sithole and Muzorewa withdrawing their candidacies shortly before the election (though their names remained on the ballot) due to threats of violence.

1996 Zimbabwean presidential election
16–17 March 1996
 
Candidate Robert Mugabe Abel Muzorewa
Party ZANU–PF United Parties
Popular vote 1,404,501 72,600
Percentage 92.76% 4.80%
President before election

Robert Mugabe
ZANU–PF

 Elected President

Robert Mugabe
ZANU–PF

Politics of Zimbabwe
Constitution
Government
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

The elections were not free and fair, as the ruling Mugabe regime and ZANU-PF party engaged in extensive electoral manipulation.[1] The election took place amid an economic crisis.[1]

Sithole (who was under virtual house arrest due to charges of attempting to assassinate Mugabe) withdrew after claiming that Mugabe's ZANU–PF was undermining his campaign, whilst Muzorewa pulled out after the Supreme Court turned down his bid to postpone the elections on the basis that the electoral rules were unfair (as state funds were only available to parties with 15 or more seats in parliament).[2] In December 1997 Sithole was convicted of conspiring to assassinate Mugabe; he appealed but died whilst out on bail.

Results
CandidatePartyVotes%
Robert MugabeZANU–PF1,404,50192.76
Abel MuzorewaUnited Parties72,6004.80
Ndabaningi SitholeZANU–Ndonga36,9602.44
Total1,514,061100.00
Valid votes1,514,06197.21
Invalid/blank votes43,4972.79
Total votes1,557,558100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,822,28932.30
Source: African Elections database

References
  1. Kwashirai, Vimbai Chaumba, ed. (2023), "What Presidential Election in 1996?", Election Violence in Zimbabwe: Human Rights, Politics and Power, Cambridge University Press, pp. 113–127, doi:10.1017/9781108120265.007, ISBN 978-1-107-19081-8
  2. Zimbabwe President's Last Rival Withdraws From Election New York Times, 16 March 1996
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