Date: Wednesday, 8 August 2018
Time: 12:00 – 14:00
Venue: Video Conferencing Room, Level 1, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street
Zimbabwe held its anticipated harmonised general elections on the 30th of July, 2018. Of the 23 presidential candidates the main contenders were Emmerson Mnangwagwa (ZANU-PF) and Nelson Chamisa (MDC- Alliance). These elections did not feature the usual political party leaders, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai. New leaders with new messages of hope inspired many to go and vote. The elections remained highly contested and no leader necessarily assured of a victory. The usual accusations of electoral irregularities and of media and ZEC partiality abounded. The atmosphere running up to the elections, however, was markedly different from previous elections. Political Party supporters campaigned openly, international observers were welcomed, and the ruling party created an environment for inclusive participation.
This briefing will provide an in-depth analysis of the elections and prospects for a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe. The briefing will be contextualised so that we understand the nature of elections and leadership in Africa, as well as Zimbabwe’s challenges for democratic renewal.
Chair: Prof Cheryl Hendricks – Executive Director, AISA
Panellists:
Prof Kealeboga Maphunye (UNISA)
Ms Crystal Orderson (Africa Report, 702)
Mr Piers Pigou (International Crisis Group)
Mr Frank Lekaba (AISA)
Mr Otto Saki (Ford Foundation)
Pretoria: HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria. Contact: Sam Lekala, Tel:
(012) 316 9753, e-mail: slekala@hsrc.ac.za
Cape Town: HSRC, Merchant House 116-118 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town. Contact: Carmen Erasmus, Tel: (021) 466 7827, e-mail: CErasmus@hsrc.ac.za
Durban: The Atrium, 5th Floor, 430 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Berea, 4001. Contact: Ridhwaan Khan, Tel: (031) 242 5400, cell: 083 788 2786, e-mail: RKhan@hsrc.ac.za
Port Elizabeth: 1st Floor East Wing, Building 1 Ascot Office Park, Corner Conyngham & Ascot Roads, Greenacres, Port Elizabeth 6001. Contact: Nomfanelo Plaatjie, email: nplaatjie@hsrc.ac.za or 041 393 9500
Kindly note that seminars can now be accessed via the Vidyo link:
https://hsrc-vc.tenet.ac.za/flex.html?roomdirect.html&key=GGKGXLnInSbnn5Mspk7JfF1qu8
The HSRC seminar series is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The views and opinions expressed therein as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of the DST