Robert Mugabe

===Power-sharing with the opposition MDC: 2008–2013===
{{Main|2008 Zimbabwean presidential election}}

In March 2008, the parliamentary and presidential elections were held. In the former, ZANU–PF secured 97 seats to the MDC's 99 and the rival [[Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube|MDC – Ncube]]'s 9.{{sfn|Norman|2008|p=143}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/04/02/final-house-of-assembly-results/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080616052813/http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/04/02/final-house-of-assembly-results/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2008|title=Final House of Assembly Results|work=[[Zimbabwe Metro]]|access-date=28 June 2008}}</ref> In May, the [[Zimbabwe Electoral Commission]] announced the presidential vote results, confirming that Tsvangirai secured 47.9%, to Mugabe's 43.2%. As neither candidate secured 50%, a run-off vote was scheduled.{{sfnm|1a1=Norman|1y=2008|1p=157}} Mugabe saw his defeat as an unacceptable personal humiliation.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=963}} He deemed it a victory for his Western, and in particular British, detractors, whom he believed were working with Tsvangirai to end his political career.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=963}} ZANU–PF claimed that the MDC had rigged the election.{{sfn|Norman|2008|p=144}}

[[File:Mugabe - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|thumb|Mugabe in 2011]]

After the election, Mugabe's government deployed its "war veterans" in a violent campaign against Tsvangirai supporters.{{sfn|Norman|2008|p=146}} Between March and June 2008, at least 153 MDC supporters were killed.{{sfn|Howard-Hassmann|2010|p=905}} There were reports of women affiliated with the MDC being subjected to [[gang rape]] by Mugabe supporters.{{sfn|Howard-Hassmann|2010|p=905}} Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans were internally displaced by the violence.{{sfn|Howard-Hassmann|2010|p=905}} These actions brought international condemnation of Mugabe's government.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] expressed concern about the violence,{{sfn|Norman|2008|p=173}} which was also unanimously condemned by the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]], which declared that a free and fair election was "impossible".{{sfn|Norman|2008|p=173}} 40 senior African leaders—among them [[Desmond Tutu]], [[Kofi Annan]], and [[Jerry Rawlings]]—signed an open letter calling for an end to the violence.{{sfn|Norman|2008|pp=170–171}}

In response to the violence, Tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off.{{sfn|Norman|2008|p=74}} In the second round, Mugabe was pronounced victor with 85.5% of the vote, and immediately re-inaugurated as president.{{sfn|Norman|2008|p=175}}<ref name="CNN2008">{{cite web|url=http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/29/mugabe-wins-by-9-to-1-margin/|title=Mugabe wins by 9-to-1 margin|work=The CNN Wire|date=29 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528140238/http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/29/mugabe-wins-by-9-to-1-margin/|archive-date=28 May 2009|url-status=dead|publisher=CNN}}</ref> The SADC oversaw the establishment of a power-sharing agreement; brokered by Mbeke, it was signed in September 2008.<ref name="edition.cnn.com">{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/09/15/zimbabwe.powershare/?iref=mpstoryview|title=edition.cnn.com, Rivals sign Zimbabwe power-share deal|publisher=CNN|date=16 September 2008|access-date=5 September 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232421/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/09/15/zimbabwe.powershare/?iref=mpstoryview|archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> Under the agreement, Mugabe remained President while Tsvangirai became Prime Minister and the MDC's [[Arthur Mutambara]] became Vice Prime Minister.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} The cabinet was equally divided among MDC and ZANU–PF members.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} ZANU–PF nevertheless displayed unwillingness to share power,{{sfn|Chigora|Guzura|2011|p=24}} and were anxious to prevent any sweeping political changes.{{sfn|Onslow|Redding|2009|p=63}} Under the power-sharing agreement, a number of limited reforms were passed.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=965}} In early 2009, Mugabe's government declared that—to combat rampant inflation—it would recognise US dollars as legal tender and would pay government employees in this currency.{{sfn|Howard-Hassmann|2010|p=904}} This helped to stabilise prices.{{sfn|Howard-Hassmann|2010|p=904}} ZANU–PF blocked many of the proposed reforms and a new constitution was passed in March 2013.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=965}}