Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 1985

The Zimbabwe parliamentary election of 1985 saw the re-election, with an increased majority, of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front government under Robert Mugabe which had first been elected five years previously prior to the country achieving independence. It was thus the first time a general election in Zimbabwe had been conducted under the administration of that country's authorities.

Campaign

Common roll

The previous election had shown that ZANU (PF) had monopolised popular support among the Shona areas, and the chances of it losing the election were minimal. However, ZANU (PF) needed to affirm its support and demonstrate that it retained the confidence of the people that it was making genuine progress. Popular support for PF-ZAPU, outside the Ndebele areas, was minimal, and the United African National Council of Abel Muzorewa had lost support to ZANU (PF) following the effective transition into government of Robert Mugabe.

White roll

The white MPs in the previous Assembly, who had all started off as members of the Rhodesian Front (later renamed the Republican Front), had split over their reaction to the ZANU (PF) government with more than half resigning their membership in March 1982 in order to become Independents who partially supported ZANU (PF). Eventually, in April 1985, the Independent Zimbabwe Group was formed in preparation for the election. Generally, whites in Harare and Bulawayo had little complaint about the conduct of government, having seen little change in their lifestyles.

There was therefore a genuine contest in the Zimbabwean white community between the Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe (the renamed Rhodesian Front), advocating strong defence of white interests, and the Independent Zimbabwe Group, advocating conciliation and partnership with ZANU (PF).

Electoral system

The House of Assembly of Zimbabwe consisted at this time of 100 seats, of which 20 were reserved for white voters, and the remaining 80 were elected on a 'common roll' consisting of all adult citizens except those on the white roll. Since Zimbabwean independence, an electoral roll for the common roll seats had been compiled. Single-member constituencies were drawn up for the common roll seats instead of election by lists in regions used in the first election. The common roll seats polled on July 1-2, 1985.

The white roll seats had been drawn up in 1978 but the large exodus of white Zimbabweans (especially from rural areas) had led to a wide disparity in electorate sizes. The Delimitation Commission therefore redrew the map, and renamed many of the seats to match changes in place names. Another change to the system was that preferential voting was reinstituted for the white roll seats, so that a candidate had to win more than half of the votes (after transfers) in order to be elected. The white roll seats polled on June 27, 1985.

Results

The state of the parties in the House of Assembly was:

Constituency results

Common roll

White roll

Changes during the Assembly

In the delayed poll in Kariba constituency, two candidates were nominated: Kenneth Madzvanya Mano (PF-ZAPU) and Enos Mzombi Nkala (ZANU (PF)). Nkala subsequently withdrew, although a poll was required (it took place on July 5-7) and Mano was declared elected.

Charles Duke (CAZ, Highlands) joined ZANU (PF) in June 1986.

Ian Smith (CAZ, Bulawayo Central) was suspended from the Assembly for one year on April 2, 1987 over statements he had made in South Africa which were critical of the Mugabe government.

Three members elected from the white roll constituencies joined ZANU (PF) on July 28, 1987. They were John Landau (IZG, Avondale), John Kay (IZG, Makoni), and Tony Read (Ind, Borrowdale).

In September 1987, having achieved the support of 75% of the House of Assembly as required under the Lancaster House Agreement, the constitution was amended to abolish the white roll constituencies. Twenty further members (including many of the former white MPs who were supportive of ZANU (PF)) were co-opted onto the House of Assembly to replace them.

References

* "Zimbabwe Government Gazette", June 17, 1985 (candidates)
* "Zimbabwe Government Gazette", July 12, 1985 (elected members)
* "Zimbabwe Herald" (election results)
* "Sunday Mail" (election results)