Following a desktop research and in-depth interviews of key informants, this paper provides an overview of Zimbabwe’s political and electoral landscape as the country prepares for the harmonized elections. Focus is placed on discussing and assessing pivotal electoral and political processes and how these have reconfigured the political and electoral landscape. These pivotal processes range from the new constitution; the reformed electoral framework; the ‘military assisted transition’; the shifts in ruling party ideology; the on-going intra-party changes and primary elections, and importantly the recalibration of Zimbabwe’s foreign policy. Flowing from this discussion the paper highlights ‘flashpoints’ that are important to track and monitor in order to have a full grasp of the challenges, opportunities and prospects for a peaceful electoral process. Recommendations, for state and non-state actors, are then spelt out that can ensure the electoral process is credible, and importantly the electoral process meets the obligations set in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
