The 2008 Presidential election in Zimbabwe was characterized by political strife, violence, and significant electoral manipulation. Following a first round of voting where no candidate achieved an outright majority, a runoff was scheduled between the incumbent Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). In the weeks leading up to the runoff, reports of violence escalated, particularly targeting Tsvangirai's supporters. The government was implicated in orchestrating a campaign of terror aimed to suppress dissent and ensure Mugabe’s continued rule.

As the situation worsened, Tsvangirai withdrew from the election, citing the unbearable conditions under which his party members were forced to operate. He labeled the election a 'sham', and his decision was seen as a response to the heightened risks faced by his supporters. Despite this, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared Mugabe the winner of the runoff, claiming to have secured an overwhelming majority of votes. The official results were met with skepticism and widespread international condemnation, which deemed the election process illegitimate.

This election represented the culmination of a decade-long decline in Zimbabwe's political and economic landscape. As Mugabe continued his presidency amid claims of autocracy, the situation in Zimbabwe reflected a broader narrative of governance, oppression, and civil strife that resonated across Africa. The fallout from the election prompted significant discourse on electoral integrity and the protection of human rights in authoritarian regimes.