Introduction: The Nexus Between Gender, Religion and the Media in Zimbabwean Electoral Politics

Abstract

This volume entitled, Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe Volume 2: The 2023 Election and Beyond, is the second in a two-part series. The main thrust of the two volumes is to reflect on the multifaceted factors impacting electoral politics in Zimbabwe. The twofold series foregrounds the importance of undertaking research on electoral politics in Zimbabwe. This is propelled by the reality of the fact that in this Southern African state, like in most developing states globally, the socio-economic milieu revolves around the prevailing political environment. For instance, whenever there is peace and tranquillity, there will be socio-economic growth and people’s lives will be flourishing. Conversely, lack of democracy, misgovernance and corruption are synonymous with poverty, stagnation, inflation, strife and unabated humanitarian crises. The two volumes complement each other. Volume one focused on three thematic areas. The first thematic area focused on the electoral environment in Zimbabwean politics. Language, politics and elections in Zimbabwe were the second thematic areas. The third segment deliberated on the nexus of electoral institutions and human rights in Zimbabwean politics. Proceeding from where volume one ended, the contributors to this volume reverberate the nexus of three entwined themes, highlighting how these thematic areas have a huge bearing on electoral politics. The first part brings to the fore the interface between gender and electoral politics in Zimbabwe. The second segment reflects on the role of the media in Zimbabwe’s electoral politics. The third part examines the role of traditional leaders in Zimbabwe’s electoral politics. Some of the chapters in this volume proffer possible ways of resolving the various challenges precipitating the volatile electoral environment, and they advocate for a transformed electoral environment in anticipation of the famed formative 2023 harmonized elections. The analysis and recommendations proffered in this volume will broaden the readers’ understanding of electoral politics in Zimbabwe and by extension African politics from a broad range of related perspectives.