Elections and stability in SADC: the Zimbabwe case

Instead of supporting democracy, elections are often a source of instability and conflict.

Five Southern African Development Community member states held general elections in 2018; another six will go to the polls in 2019. Elections in SADC are a source of instability and conflict. The regional body’s track record in laying down the law and reining in member states has not been encouraging. This policy brief takes Zimbabwe’s 30 July 2018 elections as a test case, looking at the challenges of implementing the SADC Principles and Guidelines and curbing errant member states.

About the author

Ringisai Chikohomero is a researcher in the Peace Operations and Peacebuilding programme in Pretoria. Before taking up this position, Ringisai was a regional analyst at Political Economy Southern Africa, where he conducted research on regional integration and political developments in Southern Africa.

Picture: GCIS/Flickr