Similarly, survey results are not direct indicators of election outcomes – they are snap shots in
conditions of fluidity, conditions that have been confirmed in Zimbabwe, in the support that is
declared for all of the political parties, both major and minor.
The basic thrust of declared party support is borne out through the assessment of trust in the
political parties. 52% of the respondents say that they trust ZANU‐PF or trust it a lot; the
corresponding percentage for the MDC‐T only comes to 39%. The response level is higher than
on party support, but the measure confirms the gap between the parties.
It needs to be taken into account that the current survey of 1,198 people carries a margin of
error of 2.8% at a 95% level of confidence. These aspects might moderate the exact level of
expressed party support, but are insufficient to subvert the trends.
Profiling supporters of ZANU‐PF, the MDC‐T and the ‘undeclareds’
Only a handful of the reasons for party choice in Zimbabwe show up clear differences between
the two pain parties’ supporters. Land, indigenisation, foreign interference in Zimbabwe,
liberation from colonialism (all linked to ZANU‐PF), and the need for change (associated with the
MDC‐T) do differentiate.
On the bulk of themes the supporters of the arch foes largely speak the same political and
economic language. This is the case especially in the experience of economic issues, and often in
the assessment of government.
The demographic side of profiling in this report shows much demographic convergence between
the supporters of the two main parties, yet also reveals continuous differences (often just in
scope) on ethnicity and national identification, unemployment, rural‐urban location, religion
and age.
The 47%‐strong grouping of undeclared support, specifically those who say ‘my vote is my
secret’, is a demographic hybrid of the characteristics of the MDC‐T and ZANU‐PF. The
undeclareds there do not systematically resemble a specific party.
Motivation to vote
A substantially higher percentage of Zimbabweans than those that usually vote in elections
declare their determination to cast ballots, both in the forthcoming referendum and elections. A
total of 80% say that they are ‘sure’ or ‘very sure’ that they will vote in a referendum, and 85%
are ‘sure’ or ‘very sure’ that they will be casting their ballots in the next elections.
The undeclared category and specifically those who say that their votes are their secret are
mildly less motivated to vote in a referendum and next election than their MDC‐T and ZANU‐PF
counterparts: 57% of them anticipate voting in the referendum and 67% in a next election.
There is no significant difference in the intent of the declared supporters of the two main parties
to cast their ballots. On reasons for intending to vote a larger proportion of ZANU‐PF supporters
than of the MDC‐T say that they will vote because the political principals instruct them to do so.
MDC‐T supporters continue to emphasise their hope that voting will bring change.
A high proportion of Zimbabweans (77%, slightly down from the 83% of 2010) assert that they
are registered as voters. Only one‐quarter of these registered voters have inspected the voters
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