Survey: MDC-T Leader's Chances of Winning Presidential Election Dwindling
The latest Afrobarometer findings indicate that Tsvangirai’s popularity has diminished significantly over the past 15 years.
WASHINGTON — Afrobarometer says Morgan Tsvangirai’s chances of being elected president of Zimbabwe are diminishing as Zanu PF appears to be gaining momentum ahead of the 2018 general elections. Findings of a survey conducted between conducted between 28 January and 10 February 2017 with a sample size of 1,200 adult citizens, indicate that the MDC-T’s popularity has diminished significantly over the past 15 years from 57 percent to 16 percent. “Survey shows that ZANU-PF has an edge if presidential elections were to be held tomorrow. Asked which party’s candidate one would vote for in a hypothetical presidential elections, a day after the survey, 38% said ZANU-PF, 24% refused to answer, 16% said MDC-T, 11% said they would not vote and 4% said they would vote for a ZIMPF (Zimbabwe People First) candidate (before the split) and 2% said they would vote for other parties. “Survey shows that ZANU-PF still commands support in the rural areas while a plurality (31%) of those who refused to answer are urban based.” A plurality of adult Zimbabweans (45%) agree that opposition political parties should work together under a grand coalition in order for them to win the 2018 harmonized elections. “Support for a grand coalition ahead of 2018 elections is strongest among citizens who have post-secondary education (62%) and live in urban areas (59%). Majorities are supportive in Matabeleland North (52%), Harare (62%) and Bulawayo (64%) provinces.” The survey findings also indicated that the majority of Zimbabweans (62%) are not at all free to criticize President Robert Mugabe. “Midlands province has the highest proportion of residents (78%) while Mashonaland West province has the least proportion (41%) of residents who do ‘not at all’ feel free to criticize the President.”