1996 Zimbabwean presidential election

Presidential elections was held in Zimbabwe on 16 and 17 March 1996. The elections were contested by the incumbent President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe Rhodesia-era Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa, and ZANU–Ndonga leader Ndabaningi Sithole. Mugabe won, claiming over 90% of the vote, though turnout was just 32.3%, largely as a result of Sithole and Muzorewa withdrawing their candidacies shortly before the election (though their names remained on the ballot) due to threats of violence.

The elections were not free and fair, as the ruling Mugabe regime and ZANU-PF party engaged in extensive electoral manipulation.^[1] The election took place amid an economic crisis.^[1]

Sithole (who was under virtual house arrest due to charges of attempting to assassinate Mugabe) withdrew after claiming that Mugabe's ZANU–PF was undermining his campaign, whilst Muzorewa pulled out after the Supreme Court turned down his bid to postpone the elections on the basis that the electoral rules were unfair (as state funds were only available to parties with 15 or more seats in parliament).^[2] In December 1997 Sithole was convicted of conspiring to assassinate Mugabe; he appealed but died whilst out on bail.

Results


Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Robert Mugabe	ZANU–PF	1,404,501	92.76
	Abel Muzorewa	United Parties	72,600	4.80
	Ndabaningi Sithole	ZANU–Ndonga	36,960	2.44
Total			1,514,061	100.00

Valid votes			1,514,061	97.21
Invalid/blank votes			43,497	2.79
Total votes			1,557,558	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			4,822,289	32.30
Source: African Elections database

References

^ ^a ^b Kwashirai, Vimbai Chaumba, ed. (2023), "What Presidential Election in 1996?", Election Violence in Zimbabwe: Human Rights, Politics and Power, Cambridge University Press, pp. 113–127, doi:10.1017/9781108120265.007, ISBN 978-1-107-19081-8
^ Zimbabwe President's Last Rival Withdraws From Election New York Times, 16 March 1996

[:0-1] Kwashirai, Vimbai Chaumba, ed. (2023), "What Presidential Election in 1996?", Election Violence in Zimbabwe: Human Rights, Politics and Power, Cambridge University Press, pp. 113–127, doi:10.1017/9781108120265.007, ISBN 978-1-107-19081-8

[2] Zimbabwe President's Last Rival Withdraws From Election New York Times, 16 March 1996

[1]

[2]

v t e Elections and referendums in Zimbabwe
Presidential elections	1990 1996 2002 2008 2013 2018 2023
Parliamentary elections	1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1920 1924 1928 1933 1934 1939 1946 1948 1954 1958 1962 1965 1970 1974 1977 1979 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2013 2018 2023
Senate elections	2005 2008 2013 2018 2023
Local elections	... 1980 1981 1983 1984 1985 1991 1993 1995 1998 2002 2003 2006 2008 2013 2018 2023
Referendums	1922 1934 1953 1961 1964 1969 1979 2000 2013
See also: Elections in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland