ZANU-PF president to be in power until 21 August 2018 even if Mugabe goes

2018 General Election Polling Date[s]

The polling date is the key date which determines when all the other electoral process must take place.  So we begin with how the polling date is fixed.

The polling date of the next general election is determined by what the Constitution says about the duration of Parliament.

•        Section 143 (1) states that

“Parliament is elected for a five-year  term which runs from the date on which the President-elect is sworn in and assumes office”. 

The President was sworn in on the 22nd August 2013, so the five-year term of Parliament ends at midnight on August 21st 2018.

The earliest date for polling is 23rd July 2018 

This is based on Constitution section 158 [Timing of Elections] which states that:

(1) A general election must be held so that polling takes place not more than … thirty days before the expiry of the five-year period specified in section 143.

The last date for polling is 21st August 2018

This is based on Constitution section 144 which states that:

“the President must by proclamation call and set dates for a general election to be held within the period prescribed in section 158.” 

This means that the election must take place before the five years has expired.

Note:  Polling can take place over more than one day.

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