Zimbabwe: 2008 Elections and Implications for U.S.
Policy
Summary
On March 29, 2008, Zimbabwe held presidential, parliamentary and local
elections. Months later, the country’s political future remains uncertain. For the first
time since independence, the ruling party has lost its majority in the National
Assembly. After a month of rising tensions, the results of the presidential race were
belatedly announced on May 2. They indicated that opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai had received more votes than the incumbent, President Robert Mugabe,
but had failed to garner the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff. Days before that
runoff was scheduled to take place, on June 27, 2008, Tsvangirai pulled out of the
race, citing widespread political violence and the absence of conditions for a free and
fair election. Mugabe was declared the winner in the runoff, which many observer
missions suggest did not reflect the will of the people.
Reports of violence and political repression have increased significantly since
the March elections, which were held amidst a deepening economic crisis in the
Southern African country. Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product (GDP) has decreased
over 50 percent in the last decade, the inflation rate is estimated in the millions, and
unemployment is higher than 80 percent. The adult HIV infection rate of 20 percent
has contributed to a sharp drop in life expectancy, and more than a third of the
population is expected to require food aid in 2008. Deteriorating conditions in the
country have led many Zimbabweans to emigrate to neighboring countries, creating
a substantial burden on the region. In South Africa, Zimbabwean immigrants and
others have recently been the target of xenophobic attacks.
President Mugabe’s government is seen as autocratic and repressive by its
critics, and its human rights record is poor. The regime has suppressed freedom of
speech and assembly, and many contend that it restricts access to food, already
scarce, in opposition areas. Many regional and international observers suggest the
presidential runoff, which the government has postponed until June 27, should not
be held amidst the current level of political violence. The U.S. Secretary of State has
labeled Zimbabwe an “outpost of tyranny,” and other Administration officials have
accused the ruling party of rigging the election and orchestrating the current violence.
The United States has enforced targeted sanctions against top Zimbabwe officials and
associates since 2002. Congress has expressed its opposition to the government’s
undemocratic policies in the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of
2001 (P.L. 107-99) and other subsequent legislation, including H.Con.Res. 100,
S.Con.Res. 25, S. 1500, S.Res. 533, H.Res. 1230, H.Res. 1270, H.Res. 1301, and
H.Con.Res. 387 during the 110th Congress. For more background, see CRS Report
RL32723, Zimbabwe.