2002 Zimbabwean presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Zimbabwe between 9 and 11 March 2002. The elections were contested by the incumbent president Robert Mugabe, Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, ZANU–Ndonga leader Wilson Kumbula, Shakespeare Maya of the National Alliance for Good Governance and independent candidate Paul Siwela. Although Mugabe won with 56.2% of the vote, it was the closest presidential election to date.

The elections were not free and fair, as they occurred under the electoral manipulation of the ZANU-PF party and intimidation of the opposition. Several members of the opposition party were murdered by the government in state sanctioned assassinations. Three members of Parliament, who were members of the opposition were assaulted by soldiers and police offices in what appeared to be a targeted attack ordered by the government. Amnesty International wrote "Freedom of expression came under increasing restrictions during the year. Journalists and lawyers were arbitrarily detained, beaten, tortured and threatened for reporting on political or human rights issues or representing the victims of human rights violations." The same report added "Zondiwa Dumukani, a 32-year-old driver working at the Blackfordby farm in Waterfalls on the outskirts of Harare, was reportedly beaten to death by a group of eight "war veterans" and ZANU-PF youths. According to reports, police officers in the area ignored the assault and did not try to intervene." During the build up to the election Zimbabwean human rights groups reported forty-eight deaths of opposition members caused by state violence. During the same period, Zimbabwean human rights groups reported "333 cases of torture and 533 of unlawful arrest or detention" noting that " In almost all cases, the victims are supporters of the MDC, farmworkers, farmers, and civil society activists such as students and trade unionists."