Zimbabwe: Political structure
- Content Type
- Country Data and Maps
- Institution
- Economist Intelligence Unit
- Abstract
- No abstract is available.
- Topic
- Politics, Summary, Political structure
- Political Geography
- Zimbabwe
Official name
Republic of Zimbabwe
Form of state
Unitary republic
Legal system
Based on Roman-Dutch law and the 1979 constitution
National legislature
National Assembly (the lower house) with 270 members, 210 of whom are directly elected; under the revised 2013 constitution 60 seats are reserved for women; a Senate (the upper house) of 78 members, 60 directly elected, 16 traditional chiefs and two elected to represent people with disabilities
National elections
July 30th 2018 (presidential, legislative and Senate); next elections due in July 2023
Head of state
President, elected by universal suffrage; under the constitution adopted in 2013 a president can serve a maximum of two terms. Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, was removed in a bloodless coup in November 2017; the new head of state is the former vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa
National government
The president and his appointed cabinet; the post of prime minister was abolished in 2013 under the revised constitution
Main political parties
Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), the ruling party since 1980; Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), formed by the trade union movement in September 1999; breakaway MDC movements including the MDC-N and MDC-Renewal; Zimbabwe People First was formed by a former ZANU-PF vice-president, Joice Mujuru, in 2015; a number of smaller parties and independent candidates also contest elections
Key ministers
President: Emmerson Mnangagwa
Defence, security & war veterans: Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri
Education (primary & secondary): Cain Mathema
Education (tertiary): Amon Murwira
Energy & power development: Fortune Chasi
Environment, climate change, tourism: Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu
Finance & economic development: Mthuli Ncube
Foreign affairs & international trade: Sibusiso Busi Moyo
Health: Constantino Chiwenga
Home affairs & culture: Kazembe Kazembe
Industry & commerce: Sekai Nzenza
Information, publicity & broadcasting: Monica Mutsvangwa
Information & communications technology: Jenfan Muswere
Justice, legal & parliamentary affairs: Ziyambi Ziyambi
Lands, agriculture & rural resettlement: Perence Shiri
Local government & public works: July Moyo
Mines & mining development: Winston Chitando
Public service, labour & social welfare: Paul Mavima
Transport & infrastructural development: Joel Biggie Matiza
State security: Owen Ncube
Women affairs, community & SME development: Sithembiso Nyoni
Youth, sports, arts & recreation: Kirsty Coventry
Central bank governor
John Mangudya
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