Occasional Paper

Apathy, Fatigue or Boycott? An Analysis of the 2005 Zimbabwe Senate Elections

“This paper examines the meaning of elections and democracy in Zimbabwe and discusses whether apathy, fatigue or boycott can be used to explain the appalling voter turnout during the Senate elections. The paper also assesses the arguments for and against bicameralism in Zimbabwe. It concludes by examining the implications of the split in the opposition on opposition politics in the country and the overall struggle for a democratic dispensation.”