However, over the past decade opposition voices have gathered strength over the party's alleged authoritarianism, corruption, and particularly its perceived mismanagement of the economy. According to UNDP's 1998 Human Development Report, only 1.5 million people out of a population of 12.2 million were in formal sector employment in 1997. Nkomo, however, denied the 12-13 February referendum result was a setback for the government or an indication of voting patterns in the forthcoming election. ZANU-PF controls all but two seats in parliament. Ten chiefs are also elected by their peers, but all are ZANU-PF members.
Political analysts believe that the next parliament is likely to be different.
The MDC links labour and civil society groups in a broad front of opposition focusing on issues of governance and the economy. It will redefine post-colonial nationalism, not one that is authoritarian, but offering one open to pluralist conceptions of national belonging. If the February referendum was an election, analysts claim that ZANU-PF would have lost approximately 58 seats. He said change can already be detected since the referendum. There has been speculation that Mugabe may postpone the legislative elections until later in the year in an attempt to derail MDC's momentum.