Governing Zim
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution: 21 December 1979
Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel Mugabe (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai Muzenda (since 31 December 1987) and Joshua M. Nkomo (since 6 August 1990)
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel Mugabe (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai Muzenda (since 31 December 1987) and Joshua M. Nkomo (since 6 August 1990); note — the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly
elections: president nominated by the House of Assembly for a six-year term (if more than one nomination, an electoral college consisting of members of the House of Assembly elects the president); election last held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2002); co-vice presidents appointed by the president
election results: Robert Gabriel Mugabe reelected president; percent of electoral college vote - Robert Gabriel Mugabe 92.7%, Abel Muzorewa 4.8%; Ndabaningi Sithole 2.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral parliament, called House of Assembly (150 seats — 120 elected by popular vote for six-year terms, 12 nominated by the president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied by provincial governors)
elections: last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party — NA; seats by party — ZANU-PF 117, ZANU-Ndonga 2, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Mugabe]; Zimbabwe African National Union-NDONGA or ZANU-NDONGA [Ndabaningi Sithole]; Zimbabwe Unity Movement or ZUM [Edgar Tekere]; Democratic Party or DP [Emmanuel Magoche]; Forum Party of Zimbabwe [Enock Dumbutshena]; United Parties [Abel Muzorewa]
