2000 Zimbabwean constitutional referendum

2000 Zimbabwean constitutional referendum

12–13 February 2000 (2000-02-12 – 2000-02-13)

Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 578,210 45.32%
No 697,754 54.68%
Valid votes 1,275,964 97.20%
Invalid or blank votes 36,774 2.80%
Total votes 1,312,738 100.00%

A constitutional referendum was held in Zimbabwe on 12–13 February 2000. The proposed new constitution, which had been drafted by a Constitutional Convention the previous year, was rejected by voters. The rejection was unexpected and was taken as a personal rebuff for President Robert Mugabe and a political triumph for the newly formed opposition group, the Movement for Democratic Change. The new proposed constitution was notable for giving power to the government to seize farms owned by white farmers, without compensation, and transfer them to black farm owners as part of a scheme of land reform.

The referendum was characterized by political violence.[1]

  1. ^ Kwashirai, Vimbai Chaumba, ed. (2023), "The Movement for Democratic Change Was Number One Enemy in 2000", Election Violence in Zimbabwe: Human Rights, Politics and Power, Cambridge University Press, pp. 128–158, doi:10.1017/9781108120265.008, ISBN 978-1-107-19081-8