Political trust and electoral integrity: Zimbabwe's 2023 election crisis and its impact on trust and democracy

Abstract

This article examines the trust crisis in relation Zimbabwe’s electoral processes, with a specific focus on the tumultuous 2023 elections. It identifies challenges such as biased electoral institutions, violence, media manipulation, and the politicisation of traditional leaders, which have fuelled the pervasive erosion of trust. Drawing parallels between various case studies, the article demonstrates the broader implications of this trust deficit on democratic governance. Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections serve as a case study highlighting issues such as the bias of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, disregarded observer missions, a biased judiciary, security force partiality, and a skewed media environment. The article proposes comprehensive electoral reforms, looking into electoral oversight, civic education and media independence to rebuild trust and fortify Zimbabwe’s electoral integrity, while emphasising the broader implications for democracy and international relations.