Zimbabwe's August 2023 elections were held against the backdrop of outcry over the outcomes of previous elections, which opposition political parties accusedthe ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party of rigging. Access to the public media is among the issues of contestation. Opposition political parties claim that they are not given equal space for campaigning purposes. Social networking sites such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook have recently provided spaces for political communication, where all parties have unfettered access to the electorate. Recently, TikTok has emerged as a popular social networking site, rivaling established applications in terms of its uptake, particularly among youths. Research on the social media application suggests that it is largely used for trivial purposes and does not contribute to critical dialogue. However, lately there is evidence that TikTok is being used for "serious" purposes, including activism. The study sought to find out how political actors in Zimbabwe used the TikTok platform for political communication in the run-up to the 2023 elections. The paper also examines the nature of digital persuasion on TikTok and how this enriches or trivialises political discourse. Findings show that TikTok was used to urge Zimbabwean youths to register to vote as well as to provide visual evidence of the good and the bad associated with particular political parties, as they competed for voters. It was used as a politainment tool, combining political messaging with the entertainment affordances of TikTok. Les & eacute;lections d'ao & ucirc;t 2023 au Zimbabwe se sont inscrites dans une dynamique de contestation des processus & eacute;lectoraux ant & eacute;rieurs, marqu & eacute;e par des accusations de fraude & eacute;manant des partis d'opposition & agrave; l'encontre du ZANU PF au pouvoir. L'acc & egrave;s aux m & eacute;dias publics est l'un des enjeux de cette contestation, les partis d'opposition affirmant qu'ils ne b & eacute;n & eacute;ficient pas d'un espace & eacute;gal pour faire campagne. Des sites de r & eacute;seaux sociaux comme X (anciennement Twitter) et Facebook ont r & eacute;cemment offert des espaces de communication politique o & ugrave; tous les partis ont un acc & egrave;s libre & agrave; l'& eacute;lectorat. TikTok est devenu un site de r & eacute;seau social populaire, concurren & ccedil;ant les applications & eacute;tablies en termes d'adoption, notamment parmi les jeunes. Bien que TikTok soit largement utilis & eacute; & agrave; des fins l & eacute;g & egrave;res, des preuves r & eacute;centes montrent son utilisation & agrave; des fins 's & eacute;rieuses', y compris l'activisme. Cette & eacute;tude se penche sur l'utilisation de TikTok par les acteurs politiques zimbabw & eacute;ens pour la communication politique avant les & eacute;lections de 2023, examinant & eacute;galement la nature de la persuasion digitale sur TikTok et son impact sur le discours politique. Les r & eacute;sultats montrent que TikTok a & eacute;t & eacute; utilis & eacute; pour encourager les jeunes Zimbabw & eacute;ens & agrave; s'inscrire pour voter et pour fournir des preuves visuelles des aspects positifs et n & eacute;gatifs associ & eacute;s & agrave; certains partis politiques, dans leur comp & eacute;tition pour les & eacute;lecteurs. TikTok a servi d'outil de << politainment >>, combinant le message politique avec les affordances de divertissement de TikTok.
