Crisis Chronology

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ZIMBABWE

12/09/2023

Special elections in nine constituencies. More elections will be held for other districts later. The US State Department said last week in the run-up to the special elections that it was placing visa restrictions on Zimbabwean individuals “believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Zimbabwe” by “excluding members of the political opposition from electoral processes.” No individual was named.

12/07/2023

High Court bars the recalled members of the CCC from participating in elections. CCC alleges that Tshabangu is a governing party operative bent on undermining the main opposition, a charge he has denied. The CCC files on appeal on behalf of eight of the recalled legislators, but no candidate was included for one district, in Harare, which will therefore be uncontested and ZANU-PF will gain the seat.

10/03/2023

A letter from Sengezo Tshabangu, secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition of Change (CCC), notifies Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda that more than twenty CCC members elected to office in 8/23 were no longer members of the party and special elections should be held to replace them. CCC leader Nelson Chamisa subsequently protested that Tshgabangu was not a member of the party, but Mudenda accepted the letter. Mnangagwa then calls for a by-election on 12/8. ZANU-PF is 10 seats short of having a two-thirds majority in parliament that would allow it to change the constitution freely.

06/23/2023

Eleven candidates register for presidential election, including Chamisa.

06/15/2023

Parliament approves increases in fees for running for office, a twenty-fold increase over 2018 fees. Presidential candidates must pay $20,000 dollars US, for instance. The ruling party insists that the law will ensure than only strong candidates run for office, but opposition coalition Citizens Coalition for Change, led by Nelson Chamisa, says the law seems likely to prevent some from running.

01/17/2023

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc submits resignation after the Communist Party says he is responsible for violations and wrongdoing of numerous officials under him, amid a wider purge for corruption, Two deputy ministers were dismissed recently.

11/29/2022

Largest dam halts electricity production as water falls below necessary level. The Kariba dam provides about 70% of Zimbabwe’s energy.

12/13/2021

Government cancels a plan to deport 2000 Zimbabweans amid criticism of the plan as racist. The deportation only applied to Zimbabweans who entered the country before a 2009 agreement.

07/07/2021

Government imposes strict stay-at-home order amid shortage of vaccines for COVID-19.

04/02/2020

Supreme Court rules that Nelson Chamisa was illegally appointed as head of the Movement for Democratic Change party. Thokozani Khupe will serve as interim leader until a new party congress is held.

03/17/2020

Zimbabwe declares a national emergency due to COVID-19, though there are no confirmed cases there.

01/31/2020

Government and civil servants union agree on substantial pay increase.

12/07/2019

Drought in Zimbabwe results in Victoria Falls drying up.

12/03/2019

Hunger in the country becoming a danger to national stability.

10/25/2019

Deeply in debt, Zimbabwe electricity company has to cut power to mines, farms, and other users.

03/18/2019

Cyclone Idai causes widespread death and destruction in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

01/21/2019

Leader of largest trade union is arrested.

01/21/2019

Leader of largest trade union is arrested.

01/18/2019

Government announces general election for 4/18 without saying whether Bouteflika will run.

01/17/2019

Government shuts down internet.

01/16/2019

Nationwide strike enters its third day. Police arrest opposition leader Pastor Evan Mawarire

01/14/2019

Protests in Harare and Bulawayo over worsening economic situation.

01/14/2019

Mnanagagwa travels to Russia and other countries before visiting the Davos economic meeting in an effort to arrange foreign loans to moderate ongoing economic collapse. In 4/09, the government announced that it would accept many other currencies as official, effectively abandoning the Zimbabwean dollar. The central bank then began printing money to prop up the government. Inflation has now spiraled, and there is no clear grasp of the economy’s true state. A shortage of hard currency means that up to $10 billion in electronic exchanges cannot be backed up.

01/12/2019

Government announces fuel price increase to counter currency shortages. Unemployment is over 80%.

01/12/2019

Central bank says it will introduce a new currency in the next year.

12/13/2018

The Women’s League and a veterans association support proposal to raise the age limit for presidential candidates from 40 to 52, which would prevent Chamisa from running.

11/03/2018

Oil and gas deposits discovered in north, the first such deposits found in Zimbabwe.

10/25/2018

Pres Mnangagwa rejects opposition calls for a government of national unity.

10/12/2018

MDC legislator calls for impeachment of Mnangagwa.

10/11/2018

Worsening economic crisis based on high debt and foreign currency shortages. High inflation, shortages of food and fuel despite the recent announcement of a “stabilization program.” People are using surrogate currencies – bond notes, bank cards, mobile payments – which are devaluing quickly against the dollar. A cholera epidemic may be widening

09/25/2018

Mnangagwa proposes creating a Leader of the Opposition position as a way to create structure in the politics of Zimbabwe, and suggests that Nelson Chamisa be the first Leader. Chamisa, who is not a member of parliament, rejects the offer.

08/10/2018

Biti charged with inciting violence.

08/10/2018

Movement for Democratic Change Alliance files challenge to election in court.

08/08/2018

Police arrest former Zimbabwe finance minister Tendai Biti, who had allied his party with Chamisa’s.

08/07/2018

Mnangagwa rules out including opposition in new government.

08/04/2018

Chamisa says he will pursue legal challenges to the Zimbabwe election outcome.

08/02/2018

Police seal off MDC headquarters. Mnanagagwa condemns opposition for inciting violence and some reports say that the police are investigation Chamisa and others on that count.

07/31/2018

Initial results indicate that ZANU-PF will win a majority of seats in parliament. The army fires on MDC supporters protesting violently after election results reports.

07/30/2018

Vote counting underway. Turnout is substantial. Chamisa claims victory.

07/29/2018

Voting for president. Robert Mugabe is not a candidate for the first time since 1987. Emmerson Mnangagwa is the candidate of the ruling ZANU-PF party, against longtime opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. While ZANU-PF controls many avenues of influence, the voting is relatively free for the first time in decades.

07/29/2018

06/23/2018

Explosion at political rally is aimed at Mnangagwa, though he is unharmed.

01/18/2018

Mnangagwa says elections will be held in four to five months, the first in independent Zimbabwe not involving Mug

01/16/2018

Despite health problems, Morgan Tsvangirai says he will the MDC Alliance presidential candidate in upcoming elections. The Alliance is composed of the People’s Democratic Party and the Movement for Democratic Change-N, Transform Zimbabwe, Zanu Ndonga, and the Multi-Racial Christian Democrats.

11/27/2017

Mnangagwa dismisses Mugabe’s cabinet, heavily represented by the military, and appoints two former ministers to key portfolios, finance and foreign affairs.

11/25/2017

Supreme Court rules that military takeover of government was legal, because its purpose was to prevent a takeover by unelected officials, probably referring to Grace Mugabe.

11/24/2017

Mnangagwa becomes president

Emmerson Mnangagwa is sworn in as president in Zimbabwe.

11/23/2017

Mugabe and his wife granted immunity from prosecution in Zimbabwe.

11/22/2017

After ZANU-PF nominates him to be president, Mnangagwa returns to Zimbabwe and is sworn in 11/24 to serve out Mugabe’s term until elections 9/18. Opposition accepts Mnangagwa as interim president.

11/21/2017

Mugabe resigns

Mugabe resigns after thrity-seven years in office. It is not clear how his succession will be handled, but Emmerson Mnangagwa is now the head of the ruling party.

11/21/2017

Zimbabwe parliament begins impeachment proceedings against Mugabe.

11/20/2017

Military says that Mugabe has agreed to a “roadmap” to resolving the situation and will meet with former VP Mnangwawa.

11/19/2017

ZANU-PF expels Mugabe and demands that he resign on 11/20. It also expels Grace Mugabe and allies. Emmerson Mnangagwa is named to lead the party. In a televised speech, Mugabe remains defiant and vows to preside over party congress in December.

11/17/2017

Ten provinces hold Coordination Committee meetings, eight of which result in calls for Mugabe's resignation as First Secretary and President, or his removal by impeachment if he does not do so.

11/17/2017

Mugabe appears in public at a graduation ceremony. Negotiations with Gen. Chiwenga and South African mediators continue. Grace Mugabe's whereabouts unknown.

11/16/2017

Opposition leader says that Mnangagwa had discussed removing Mugabe from power “a long time ago.” Mnangagwa remains out of the country.

11/16/2017

Zimbabwe Defense Forces report "significant progress" in arresting "criminals" around Mugabe, its justification for the takeover.

11/16/2017

Mugabe said to be resisting mediation by Catholic priest to arrange a peaceful exit.

11/15/2017

AU condemns military takeover in Zimbabwe.

11/15/2017

Mugabe’s wife Grace, who had been vying for the presidency with Mnangagwa, reported to be in Namibia.

11/15/2017

Military takes control of government

Military takes control of government, but insists it is not a coup. 93-year-old Mugabe is described as “safe.”

11/14/2017

Zimbabwe military, the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) chief Gen. Constantino Chiwenga warns Mugabe against continued party purge of members with a liberation history.

11/07/2017

Mugabe purging supporters of former vice-president Mnangagwa throughout Zimbabwe.

11/06/2017

Mugabe fires vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa for disloyalty.

04/12/2009

With inflation soaring, government declares that it will accept many other currencies as official.