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

Description

Volume one of Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe pays special attention to the overarching view that the 2023 harmonized elections define the fate of the major presidential contenders and their parties as well as (re) shaping the political and economic trajectories of the nation. Cognizant of the complex nature of the Zimbabwean political realm and nuanced dynamics at play, the chapters in this volume cover three interrelated themes: the electoral environment in Zimbabwean politics; language, politics, and elections in Zimbabwe; and lastly, electoral institutions and human rights in Zimbabwean politics. The chapters foreground the ongoing tensions and politicking between the two main rivals, the ruling party, ZANU PF and the main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The contributors also highlight the impact of internal tensions and factionalism within the contending parties, the apparent voter apathy, disconcerting voices due to claims about lack of transparency and a toxic political space as factors impacting on the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections. The volume will appeal to academics and practitioners in politics, human rights, religion, gender, media, languages, linguistics, and development studies. 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