Political system of Zimbabwe

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Map of Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean political system is primarily regulated by the constitution . Zimbabwe is a presidential republic .

Constitution

The current constitution dates from 2013. The original constitution of Zimbabwe was laid down in 1979 shortly before independence in the Lancaster House Agreement , which among other things provided minority rights for the white residents. In the following period it was changed several times.

The constitution requires, among other things, a multi-party system and free, fair and regular elections. According to the constitution, Zimbabwean citizens must behave loyally to their state. Veterans of the struggle for independence enjoy special protection. Respect for “different cultural, religious and traditional values” is also required.

executive

The head of state is the president , since 2017 Emmerson Mnangagwa . He is the head of state and leads the government. He appoints the cabinet and executives in public services, including the military and police. He also acts as Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces . The president is elected directly by the people for five years, possibly in a runoff election of the two most successful candidates in the first ballot. He can hold office for up to ten years. Prior to his election, the president appoints the first and second vice-presidents , who are his deputies. When a vice president leaves office, the president must immediately appoint a new incumbent.

From 1980 to 1987 and from 2009 to 2013 the government was led by the Prime Minister. He was also appointed by the President.

legislative branch

The legislative chambers are the House of Assembly (the lower house ; referred to in the constitution as the National Assembly ) and the Senate (the upper house ). Both chambers are based in the capital Harare . The Senate was abolished in 1990 and reinstated in 2005.

The House of Assembly consists of 210 MPs who are elected by majority vote and 60 female MPs who are elected equally in the ten provinces using proportional representation .

The Senate has 80 members, 60 of whom are elected at the provincial level. In all provinces except Harare and Bulawayo , the traditional rulers ( chiefs ) elect two representatives. Other Senate members are the President and Vice President of the Council of Chiefs and one male and one female disability representative.

The House of Assembly and Senate have been composed as follows since the 2018 elections :

  • House of Assembly: ZANU-PF 179 MPs, MDC Alliance 88 MPs, NPF , MDC-T and Independents each with one mandate
  • Senate: ZANU-PF 34 mandates, MDC Alliance 25 mandates, MDC-T 1 mandate and the 20 other representatives

Judiciary

The legal system of Zimbabwe is based, similar to that of South Africa , on a hybrid of the Anglo-American system of common law and the Roman Dutch Law , a common law of Dutch character, which is derived from Roman law . There are also traditional forms of jurisdiction at the local level.

The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe , the highest court in the country, is headed by the Chief Justice - who is appointed by the President. The Chief Justice also presides over the Constitutional Court . Under the Supreme Court are the High Court , the Labor Court and the Administrative Court , each headed by a Judge President . At the regional level, they are followed by the Magistrate's courts and the Customary law courts , which are responsible for cases of traditional jurisdiction.

Luke Malaba has been Chief Justice since March 2017 .

Other bodies and officials specified by the constitution at national level

The Attorney-General is appointed by the President. He is the government's chief legal advisor and is allowed to attend all cabinet and parliamentary sessions, but has no voting rights there .

Provinces and districts

Zimbabwe with provincial and district borders

Zimbabwe is divided into ten provinces, including the Harare and Bulawayo metropolitan areas. They are administered by provincial governors appointed by the president; the Provincial Administrator is in charge of administration. The eight provinces with rural structures are divided into a total of 59 districts, which are managed by a District Administrator .

In the provinces there are provincial councils or metropolitan councils , which mainly consist of representatives elected at the national level - only the disability representatives do not belong to any regional council . Furthermore, there are urban councils in the larger cities , otherwise rural councils (for example: “urban councils” and “rural councils”).

Human rights

The constitution guarantees compliance with all fundamental human rights . Gender equality should be achieved through parity in state institutions, agencies and commissions, among other things.

The human rights situation was particularly criticized under the rule of Robert Mugabe . He was accused of , among other things, mass murder , election fraud , illegal expropriations and restriction of the freedom of the press .

Same-sex marriage is prohibited by the constitution.

Memberships

Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations , the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In 2003 Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth of Nations , to which it had belonged since the state was founded.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 25 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  2. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 23 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  3. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 16 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  4. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 53 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  5. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 63 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  6. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 60 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  7. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 82 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  8. ↑ Hebert Zharare, Phyllis Kachere: Malaba appointed Chief Justice. herald.co.zw of March 29, 2017 (English), accessed October 7, 2018
  9. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 59 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  10. ^ Provincial councils a new government level. herald.co.zw of August 7, 2013 (English), accessed October 7, 2018
  11. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 17 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  12. ↑ Constitution of Zimbabwe, pp. 29–48 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  13. ^ Constitution of Zimbabwe, pp. 20–21 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  14. ↑ Constitution of Zimbabwe, p. 44 at constituteproject.org (English; PDF)
  15. ^ Anton La Guardia: Zimbabwe quits Commonwealth over suspension. The Daily Telegraph, December 8, 2003, accessed October 7, 2018