CHAPTER 2 ELECTORAL DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: THE 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS Zimbabwe went to the polls on 30 July 2018 to elect a President, Members of Parliament, and Local Councillors. A record number of candidates contested for presidency - 23, among them four women, and an equally record number of political parties - 133 - contested the elections. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8% of the vote. ZANU-PF won a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly but failed to garner a two-thirds majority in the Senate. Nelson Chamisa launched a Constitutional Court challenge of the presidential result, as ZEC revised Mnangagwa’s percentage of the vote downwards to 50.6. On 24 August the Constitutional Court dismissed the challenge and confirmed Mnangagwa as the winner, on the basis that challenge did not meet the evidentiary burden required to nullify an election. While a ruling was handed down, the Chief Justice announced that the “fully-dressed” judgment with reasons for the ruling would be handed down, but the year ended before the reasons were handed down. At the Polling Station 5 STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ZIMBABWE 2018