Regime survival strategies in Zimbabwe in the 21st century

Abstract

Zimbabwe at the turn of the new millennium has received widespread condemnation particularly with the implementation of the controversial land reform programme. Such criticisms and attacks on the government threatened the existence of the regime; as such the regime employed various strategies to ensure its survival in an anarchical environment. The image portrayed abroad has been tattered as some of the survival strategies the regime used were followed by reports of violence, instability and abandonment of the rule of law, which created a serious challenge to modern developments on democracy and human rights. As a result Zimbabwe lost many friends especially from the West and /or West controlled institutions through either suspension from IMF and Commonwealth. From such a stand point this paper therefore seeks to analyse the Regime survival strategies in Zimbabwe in the 21st century.

To appease or to repress: how dictators use economic dynamics to increase their regime longevity

“…Since it is more likely that international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes occur in non-democratic regimes [78], it is not surprising that there is a significant amount of literature that focuses on dictatorial regime survival. This body of work predominantly concentrates on the role and support of the ruling elite and of the masses [3,22,54]. The overarching concept that seems to influence these different strategies is the economic situation of a state.…”

“…The decisions dictators make and the strategies they use impact the longevity of their regime. Scholars predominantly focus on the extent to which a dictator is able to generate support from both the elite and the masses in explaining regime survival [3,22,54]. A dictator can use economic dynamics to increase his support among the elite through corrupt practices [3], he can determine the extent to which he is supported by the masses by offering public goods and services to them [22] and he can withhold benefits to repress threats stemming from these groups [17].…”

The Efficacy of Community Peacebuilding in African Communities: Case Studies From Nigeria and Zimbabwe

“…Welkom Hoek was characterised by local community members divided along party lines in the aftermath of election-related violence and long-standing evidence of division, disunity, and lack of cooperation among community members (Tesoriero, 2006, p. 185). Moyo (2013) and LeBas (2006, p. 433) point out that Zimbabwe had gone through cycles of violence between the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union—Patriotic Front (ZANU/PF), and the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The majority of the people in the Welkom Hoek community had experienced beatings, arrests, unlawful detentions, torture, and loss of close family members due to election-related conflicts since 2000.…”

Forging state-building through BRICS: Remodelling South Africa’s foreign policy approach on Zimbabwe

“…ZANU-PF succeeded in this securitisation exercise by frustrating effective and conclusive implementation of the GPA clauses dealing with state security via constitutional reform; electoral reform; security sector reforms and legislative reform. 45 In short, the party-military nexus provided a breeding ground for the securitisation of the Zimbabwean statea foreshadowing of many of the crises that followed. In general, securitisation of the state refers to an embedding of the military and security structures in the economy and institutions of the state.…”

“…For instance, in the 2002 elections, war veterans were allegedly recruited to work in the National Command Centre (NCC), along with personnel from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA); the Air Force of Zimbabwe; the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP); and the Zimbabwe Central Intelligence Organisation (ZCIO). 51 In 2005, the National Security Council (NSC)a structure then chaired by President Mugabe, his two vice-presidents, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and dominated by securocratswas reportedly appointed to run the economy. Retired military personnel from the army and air force have reportedly long run state-run companies managing diamond mining throughout the country.…”