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Summary

After almost a year of uncertainty following Zimbabwe's March 2008 elections, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn as Prime Minister of a new coalition government on February 11, 2009. The new government's establishment came five months after a power-sharing agreement was signed in an effort to resolve the political standoff resulting from the flawed 2008 elections. For the first time since independence, the ruling party has lost its majority in the National Assembly. The results of the presidential race, belatedly announced in May 2008 amid rising tensions, indicated that Tsvangirai had received more votes than the incumbent, President Robert Mugabe, but had failed to garner the 50% needed to avoid a runoff. Days before that runoff was scheduled to take place, in late June 2008, Tsvangirai pulled out of the race, citing widespread political violence and the absence of conditions for a free and fair election. Mugabe was declared the winner in the runoff, but many observer missions suggest the poll did not reflect the will of the people. On September 15, 2008, after weeks of negotiations, Tsvangirai and Mugabe reached an agreement to form a unity government. As part of the deal, Mugabe remains head of state, with Tsvangirai as Prime Minister and cabinet and gubernatorial positions divided among the parties. Disputes over the allocation of key ministries delayed implementation of the agreement. As mediation efforts continued, the United States, the European Union, and several African leaders called for Mugabe's resignation. A final agreement was reached in January 2009, and the new coalition government was established in early February. The parties to the agreement now face significant challenges in working together to promote political reconciliation and to address serious economic and humanitarian needs. Politically motivated violence and repression followed the March elections, which were held amidst a deepening economic crisis. Zimbabwe's gross domestic product (GDP) has decreased over 50% in the last decade, the inflation rate rose to over 200 million percent in 2008, and the official unemployment rate is over 90%. The adult HIV prevalence rate of 15% has contributed to a sharp drop in life expectancy, and almost three quarters of the population reportedly required food aid in early 2009. Over 4,300 died between August 2008 and July 2009 from a widespread cholera outbreak that infected almost 100,000. Experts suggest a similar outbreak is likely to occur as the rains return this year. Deteriorating conditions in the country have led many Zimbabweans to immigrate to neighboring countries in recent years, creating a substantial burden on the region. In South Africa, immigrants have been the target of xenophobic attacks. International donors welcomed the January 2009 agreement and have begun a cautious process of re-engagement with the transitional government, but a resumption of significant assistance is expected to be predicated on more substantial political reforms. Many remain skeptical that true power sharing exists within the coalition government. Several officials from the previous administration, which had a poor human rights record and was seen as autocratic and repressive by its critics, remain in the new government. Harassment of opposition and civil society activists continues, and many question the ruling party's commitment to reform. In 2005, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice labeled Zimbabwe an "outpost of tyranny," and Bush Administration officials accused Mugabe's party of rigging the 2008 election and orchestrating political violence. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been similarly critical of Mugabe's rule. The United States has enforced targeted sanctions against top Zimbabwe officials and associates since 2002 and Congress has expressed its opposition to the government's undemocratic policies in the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (ZDERA; P.L. 107-99) and subsequent legislation. Also see CRS Report RL32723, Zimbabwe, by Lauren Ploch.

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