The Role of the Military in the 2023 Zimbabwe Elections: A Nested Game Analysis of Civil-Military Relations

Darlington N. Mahuku

Abstract: The elections that took place in Zimbabwe on the 23rd and 24th of August 2023 were disputed and was condemned by the SADC, the AU and the EU among other Election Observer Missions. In southern Africa, Zimbabwe is unique in that the ZANU-PF civilian-military elite symbiotic relationship has always been very visible when ever there is an election. However, President Mnangagwa allegedly tried to skirt military elite influence in the August harmonized election. This paper examines the influence of the military on the 2023 Zimbabwean elections and the extent to which the civilian leadership has 'succeeded' in minimizing military interference. Employing the nested game approach and rational choice theory, this qualitative study utilizes desktop research and interviews to argue that while President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa attempted to diminish the military's role, the military elites remain influential kingmakers in Zimbabwean politics. The paper concludes that despite seeming silencing of the guns, the military's deeprooted command and control persist, impacting the future political landscape of Zimbabwe.

Keywords: Harmonised election, Zimbabwe, FAZ, Heritage, ZANU-PF, Citzens Coalition for Change, Operation Sasatisamarina