Section 144: General election resulting from dissolution of Parliament
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) Where Parliament has not earlier passed resolutions to dissolve in terms of section 143(2), the President must by proclamation call and set dates for a general election to be held within the period prescribed in section 158.
(2) Where—
(a) Parliament has passed resolutions to dissolve in terms of section 143(2);
(b) the President has dissolved Parliament in terms of section 143(3);
(c) the President has dissolved Parliament following a vote of no confidence in terms of
section 109(4); or
(d) Parliament stands dissolved following a vote of no confidence in terms of section
109(5); the President must by proclamation call and set dates for a general election to be held not more than ninety days after Parliament passed the resolutions or the President dissolved Parliament or Parliament stood dissolved, as the case may be.
(3) The dates for a general election called in terms of subsection (1) or (2) must be fixed by the President after consultation with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Insight: Section 144 outlines the President's obligation to call for general elections when Parliament ends, whether through normal term completion or early dissolution. The key distinction is the timing: regular elections occur within the period specified in section 158, while elections following early dissolution (through various mechanisms) must occur within 90 days. In all cases, the President must consult with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission when setting election dates, ensuring proper electoral administration.