Political Finance Database

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

2018
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
Question Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

"No political party, member of a political party or candidate shall accept any foreign donation, whether directly from the donor or indirectly through a third person."

(Section 6(1), Political Parties (Finance) Act 2001).

2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
Code
Yes
Source

"No political party, member of a political party or candidate shall accept any foreign donation, whether directly from the donor or indirectly through a third person."

(Section 6(1), Political Parties (Finance) Act 2001).

3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
Code
No
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
Code
No
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
Code
No
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?
Code
No
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?
Code
No
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
Code
No
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
Code
No
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
Code
No
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
Code
No
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
Code
No
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
Code
No
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?
Code
No
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit?
Code
Not applicable
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
Code
No
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?
Code
Not applicable
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
Code
No
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
Code
Not applicable
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
Code
No
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
Code
No
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
Code
No
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
Code
No
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
Code
No
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?
Code
No
Question Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?
Code
Yes, regularly
Source

"Subject to this Act, every political party shall be entitled in each Parliamentary year to receive from the State the sums of money that are payable to it in terms of this
Act."

(Section 3(1), Political Parties (Finance) Act 2001).

29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Share of votes in previous election
Source

"For the purpose of subsection (2), each political party whose candidates received at least five per centum of the total number of votes cast in the most recent general election shall be entitled to the same proportion of the total moneys appropriated as the total number of votes cast for its candidates in the election bears to the aggregate of votes cast for all political parties that qualify to be paid moneys in terms of this subsection: Provided that, where a candidate is declared elected in terms of section 46 or 49 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:01] without a poll having taken place, he shall be deemed to have received the votes of all the voters registered in the constituency concerned."

(Section 3(3), Political Parties (Finance) Act 2001).

30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Proportional to votes received
Source

"For the purpose of subsection (2), each political party whose candidates received at least five per centum of the total number of votes cast in the most recent general election shall be entitled to the same proportion of the total moneys appropriated as the total number of votes cast for its candidates in the election bears to the aggregate of votes cast for all political parties that qualify to be paid moneys in terms of this subsection: Provided that, where a candidate is declared elected in terms of section 46 or 49 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:01] without a poll having taken place, he shall be deemed to have received the votes of all the voters registered in the constituency concerned."

(Section 3(3), Political Parties (Finance) Act 2001).

31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
Code
No
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

"A public broadcaster shall ensure that contesting political parties or candidates are treated equitably in the allocation of air time for the broadcasting of election matter."

(Section 4(1), Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Elections) Regulations, 2008).

33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Equal
Source

"A public broadcaster shall ensure that contesting political parties or candidates are treated equitably in the allocation of air time for the broadcasting of election matter."

(Section 4(1), Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Elections) Regulations, 2008).

34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
Code
Yes
Source

"A public broadcaster shall ensure that contesting political parties or candidates are treated equitably in the allocation of air time for the broadcasting of election matter."

(Section 4(1), Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Elections) Regulations, 2008).

35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
Code
No
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
Code
No
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?
Code
No
Question Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?
Code
Yes
Source

(1) Subject to subsection (2), any person who, directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person—
(a) gives, lends or procures or agrees to give, lend or procure or offers or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money to or for any person on behalf of a voter, or to or for any other person in order to induce a voter to vote or refrain from voting, or who corruptly does any such act as aforesaid on account of such voter having voted or refrained from voting at any election; or
(b) gives, lends or agrees to give or lend, or offers or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money to or for a voter, or to or for any other person on behalf of a voter, or to or for any other person, for acting or joining in any procession or demonstration before, during or after an election; or

(c) makes any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement to or for any person in order to induce such person to procure or to endeavour to procure the return of a candidate at an election or the vote of a voter at an election; or
(d) upon or in consequence of any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, procures or engages or promises or endeavours to procure, the return of a candidate at an election or the vote of a voter at an election; or
(e) advances or pays any money to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that such money, or any part thereof, shall be expended in bribery at an election, or who knowingly pays any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at an election; or
(f) before or during an election, receives or contracts for any money or loan for himself or herself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at an election; or
(g) after an election receives any money on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting or having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting at an election; or
(h) conveys or transfers any property or pays any money to any person for the purpose of enabling him or her to be registered as a voter, thereby to influence his or her vote at a future election, or pays any money on behalf of a voter for the purpose of inducing him or her to vote or refrain from voting;
shall be guilty of the offence of bribery and liable to a fine not exceeding level seven or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment."

(Section 136(1), Electoral Act n° 25/2004 last amended by Act n° 3/2016).

39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
Code
No
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
Code
Not applicable
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
Code
No
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
Code
Not applicable
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
Code
No
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?
Code
No
Question Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?
Code
No
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
No
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
No
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
Code
No
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?
Code
Not applicable
Comment

No reporting requirements.

52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
Code
Not applicable
Comment

No reporting requirements.

53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
Code
No
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
Code
No
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?
Code
No Institution specified
Comment

No reporting requirements.

56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
No institution specified
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
Not applicable
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?
Code
  • Fines
  • Prison
Source

"Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine—
(a) equivalent to the market value of the donations collected by that person; or
(b) level twelve;
whichever is the greater amount, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both."

(Section 7(2), Political Parties (Finance) Act 2001).

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