Campaigning for the first round of the presidential election held in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008 took place from February to March. There were three major candidates: President Robert Mugabe of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC, Tsvangirai faction), and the independent candidate Simba Makoni.
Beginning of campaigning Mugabe declared on 12 February that he was "raring to go and raring to fly"."Mugabe 'raring to go' for election", Reuters (IOL), 12 February 2008. Speaking at a rally in Beitbridge on 23 February, he likened Makoni to "a frog trying to inflate itself up to the size of an ox" that was sure to burst, while calling Tsvangirai a Western puppet. Predicting an easy victory for ZANU-PF, he vowed that "regime change" would never occur in Zimbabwe."Mugabe lambasts challengers", Al Jazeera, 24 February 2008. Mugabe launched his re-election campaign on 29 February in Harare"Mugabe vows to defeat 'two-headed political creatures' in Zimbabwe election", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 29 February 2008. and presented ZANU-PF's election manifesto."Mugabe partially admits failing Zimbabweans" , SABC News, 29 February 2008. He promised increased agricultural production and the reform and improvement of the mining sector,"Mugabe dubs poll rivals 'witches'", BBC News, 29 February 2008. and he urged the party to acknowledge past failures, such as in the area of infrastructure development. He said that ZANU-PF was united under his leadership: "the struggles within the party that have taken place, and in some cases little wars, have been settled. At the end of the day, we have this congregation with me at the head."
Tsvangirai launched his campaign and presented the MDC's election manifesto on 23 February in Mutare. Promising to deliver economic recovery, he said that the MDC had "studied this economy comprehensively and we know what is wrong with it", and that he could put "this economy back on its feet with 100 days of forming a democratic government". Mugabe and ZANU-PF, according to Tsvangirai, "belong[ed] to the past", had "run out of ideas", and could not rescue the economy. Tsvangirai also said that he would place a priority on the creation of a new constitution. He argued that the people wanted total change and not merely partial reform, comparing the former to new clothes and the latter to patching up tattered clothes; this was viewed as a critical reference to Makoni's candidacy.Fikile Maphala, "Tsvangirai launches campaign, economic revival tops agenda" , newzimbabwe.com, 24 February 2008.
Speaking at a press conference in Bulawayo on 1 March, prior to the launch of Makoni's campaign, former Interior Minister Dumiso Dabengwa and former Speaker of Parliament Cyril Ndebele announced their support for Makoni."Zanu-PF veterans side with Makoni", AFP (IOL), 1 March 2008.
Events during the campaign While US Ambassador James D. McGee pointed to "ominous signs" that the election would not be free and fair in an open letter in late February, Zambian Foreign Minister Kabinge Pande said that signs were encouraging and that regional leaders believed the election would be free and fair. Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa suggested that the West might not be willing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the election unless Mugabe was defeated.
The Herald, Zimbabwe's state-owned daily newspaper, reported on 29 February that Retired Major General Paradzayi Zimondi, the head of the prison service, gave his officers an order to vote for Mugabe."'Vote Mugabe, that's an order!'", Reuters (IOL), 29 February 2008."Vote Mugabe, prison staff ordered", BBC News, 29 February 2008. He said that Tsvangirai and Makoni would reverse land reform if they were elected, and he vowed to resign from his post and return to his farm to protect it if Mugabe were defeated. Makoni has said that he would continue land reform and would not take back any redistributed land unless it was improperly gained. Subsequently, Defence Forces Commander Constantine Chiwenga said that the army supported Mugabe and would "not support or salute sell-outs and agents of the West before, during and after the presidential elections".Nqobani Ndlovu, "I'll only salute Mugabe, not sell-outs: Chiwenga", The Standard (Zimbabwe).
On 4 March, The Herald reported that several important foreign corporations, including Citigroup, South African Breweries-Miller, and Actis Africa, were providing financial assistance to Makoni's campaign; the newspaper called this proof that Makoni's "election bid was part of the Western regime change agenda"."UK, SA firms fund Zim's Makoni: report", Sapa (IOL), 4 March 2008.
Makoni said in an interview with Agence France-Presse in early March that he anticipated getting at least 72% of the vote and that he was only interested in the concerns of Zimbabweans, not those of the West. According to Makoni, Mugabe "has a very special place in our history" and would receive "the due respect that our African culture and African standards demand of us" if Makoni won the election, stressing that he was "not about retribution and victimisation"."No backlash against Mugabe, says challenger", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 4 March 2008. In an interview with the Financial Times published on 17 March, he repeated that he would not seek retribution against Mugabe if he won the election, although he said that Mugabe had "a lot to answer for" and would still be subject to the law. According to Makoni, he wanted to form a national unity government that would include both ZANU-PF and the MDC."Mugabe has a lot to answer for – Makoni", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 17 March 2008.
On 5 March, The Herald reported that Mugabe told a rally in Bazely Bridge that "the British had identified people within Zanu-PF to work with in causing divisions in the party because it realised the ruling party was a united revolutionary liberation movement that had to be destroyed from within". He distributed over 200 computers to Manicaland schools and said that food and farm equipment would also be sent."Makoni presidency a ploy by Britain – Mugabe", IOL, 5 March 2008. On the same day, Mugabe said at a rally in Mahusekwa that some businesses were raising prices with the intent of causing the people to suffer, hoping that they would blame the government for their suffering and vote for the opposition as a result."Mugabe says price hikes undermine him", AFP (IOL), 5 March 2008.
The European Union expressed concern on 10 March that "the humanitarian, political and economic situation in Zimbabwe and conditions on the ground" might "endanger the holding of free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections". It said that European observers had not been invited."EU fears Zim elections won't be free or fair", Reuters (IOL), 10 March 2008. While not inviting any observers from the EU or the United States, Zimbabwe has invited 47 observer teams, including observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union, China, Russia, and Iran. On 11 March, the arrival of the first 50 observers from SADC was reported, with more expected."SADC observers arrive to monitor Zim poll", AFP (IOL), 11 March 2008. SADC Secretary-General Tomaz Salomao said in a press conference in Harare on 12 March that SADC was confident "that the tradition of peace encapsulated in the unquestionable political maturity and tolerance shall, once again guide Zimbabweans as they go to the polls"."SADC shrugs off election fears", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 12 March 2008.
In light of Zimbabwe's dramatic inflation rate, Mugabe massively raised the salaries of members of the security forces in February, and on 10 March he approved raises for teachers and civil servants."Is Mugabe wooing workers?", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 12 March 2008. At around the same time, he signed the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Bill, which requires all businesses to be majority owned (at least 51%) by black Zimbabweans.Basildon Peta, "Mugabe approves indigenous ownership law", The Star (IOL), 10 March 2008, page 5. Mugabe subsequently accused business of raising prices to nullify the benefit of the pay raises, demanding that the price increases be reversed and warning that "profiteering" white-owned businesses would be taken over by the government."Zim gets rid of 'profiteers'", Sapa-DPA (IOL), 20 March 2008.
Human Rights Watch stated that the Electoral Commission was inadequately prepared for the polls and that the opposition was not being treated equally to the governing ZANU-PF by the authorities."Zimbabwe election run-up 'flawed'", BBC News, 19 March 2008. The government rejected these accusations; Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said that both ZANU-PF and the MDC were represented on the Electoral Commission and that Human Rights Watch's report reflected an agenda."Zimbabwe rejects free poll fears", BBC News, 19 March 2008. In a report issued on 19 March, Human Rights Forum claimed strong media bias in favour of Mugabe and the use of intimidation and threats against opposition supporters; it also alleged that the Electoral Commission is merely a front for the Registrar's Office, which it said is partisan in favour of ZANU-PF."Poll run-up a 'dog's breakfast'", Cape Argus (IOL), 22 March 2008, page 12.
Mugabe has used the campaign slogan "vote for the fist", reflecting ZANU-PF militancy; the MDC replied to this slogan by saying that "we cannot feed people with clenched fists", while Makoni has said that "the fist has become a hammer smashing the country"."'Vote for the Fist' – Mugabe", Reuters (IOL), 22 March 2008 (Saturday Argus, 22 March 2008, page 13).