A/HRC/44/50/Add.2 exclusive rule until 2017 with little space left for the work of political opposition, civil society and trade unions. 9. In 2000, a criticized fast-track programme was adopted to address the issue of land redistribution, and parliamentary elections were called into question for being fraudulent, despite various political parties having run, and for the widespread use of violence. As a result, the Movement for Democratic Change consolidated itself as the main opposition party. 10. The presidential elections in 2002 further polarized society and the international community as they were not considered to be free and fair and added to the deterioration of the country’s relations with the international donor community. This situation prompted the imposition of targeted sanctions by the European Union, the United States of America and several Commonwealth countries, which persisted at the time of the visit. 11. Over time, it became clearer that governance during the post-colonial years did not have a significant impact on structural changes in law, society or the economy. In fact, a new elite emerged operating in a way in which only a few in power were beneficiaries of the change. Through a series of constitutional amendments, the country was transformed from a parliamentary democracy into a presidential autocracy. 12. In 2008, through controversial parliamentary and presidential elections, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front once again consolidated its power. Elections were marred by unrest and tensions that resulted in a power-sharing agreement between the main political actors and gave rise temporarily to the Government of National Unity, which led efforts to draft a new Constitution (adopted in March 2013). 13. Under the new Constitution, elections were held and Robert Mugabe was re-elected, putting an end to the power-sharing agreement. In 2017, President Mugabe resigned from power after the Zimbabwe Defence Forces withdrew their support. Although not an easy succession, former Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa led the transition until he won the general elections in August 2018 under the “new dispensation” of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front. 14. Although a relatively sophisticated and diversified economy was inherited at the time of independence, a large fiscal deficit, low economic performance, high unemployment, price controls and a lack of foreign currency were the main factors that overtime – with the exception of a brief recovery period between 2009 and 2012 – contributed to economic deterioration and resulted in the current crisis. Zimbabwe was demoted from a middle-income country with a relatively low debt load to a low-income country with high debt levels.1 15. In recent years, the economy has weakened dramatically, experiencing inflation, food, water, fuel and cash shortages, power outages and increased levels of extreme poverty. 2 In addition to the poor management of public funds, natural resources and national infrastructure, environmental and climate pressures, such as El Niño droughts and Cyclone Idai, have added to the economic decline and generated a humanitarian crisis.3 16. The current administration has adopted the Transitional Stabilization Programme to address the fiscal consolidation and other currency and structural reforms to State-owned enterprises with the aim of improving the business climate to attract international privatesector investment and reducing corruption. With the Programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe has officially declared itself open for business. 17. The population of Zimbabwe is estimated to be 16 million. Between 2000 and 2014, approximately 3 million Zimbabweans left the country owing to the persistent economic, 1 2 3 See World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.19.II.C.1). See www.worldbank.org/en/country/zimbabwe/overview. See https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_Zimbabwe_HumanitarianAppeal Revision_06082019.pdf. 3