ZIMBABWE: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS - 2005 1 Introduction Norway was not invited to observe the Parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe in 2005. The Norwegian Embassy decided instead to engage an advisor to work with the Embassy from 20 March to 5 April to analyse all available information and present conclusions from the analysis. Diplomats at the embassy were accredited as observers and worked as part of a network with other diplomats, including the EU and the USA, sharing information collected before, during and after the elections. Even though this report is not based upon first-hand information collected by long-term and short-term observers in accordance with proven methodologies, there has been a reasonable amount of credible information available during the various phases. The domestic observer network ZESN had good coverage of polling stations during the election, whereby this information could subsequently be compared with the diplomats’ observations. The greatest shortcomings in terms of data have been with the tabulation of results and in first-hand information from the rural areas in the pre-election period. Overall assessment The 2005 Parliamentary elections represented an important improvement on the 2000 and 2002 elections in that the elections were performed in a peaceful environment without state-controlled violence. Despite this notable improvement from previous elections, the Parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet some key internationally recognised election standards. First of all, only 120 out of the 150 seats in the Parliament are contested in direct elections. The remaining seats are appointed by the President or indirectly elected by traditional leaders who are normally loyal to the President. This violates the principles of equal and uniform suffrage. Secondly, the suppressive legislation on association, meetings and media prevented the opposition from exercising their basic rights in the years prior to the elections and during the campaign itself. The elections in 2000 and 2002 were marred by violence orchestrated by the ruling party. The violence continued till 2004, especially in connection with mass actions, before, during and after by-elections and even in the form of inter-party violence during primary elections.