This book is the first to tackle the difficult and complex politics of transition in Zimbabwe, with deep historical analysis. Its focus is on a very problematic political culture that is proving very hard to transcend. At the center of this culture is an unstable but resilient ‘nationalist-military’ alliance crafted during the anti-colonial liberation struggle in the 1970s. Inevitably, violence, misogyny and masculinity are constitutive of the political culture. Economically speaking, the culture is that of a bureaucratic, parasitic, primitive accumulation and corruption, which include invasion and emptying of state coffers by a self-styled ‘Chimurenga aristocracy.’ However, this Chimurenga aristocracy is not cohesive, as the politics that led to Robert Mugabe’s ousting from power was preceded by dirty and protracted internal factionalism. At the center of the factional politics was the ‘first family’:Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace Mugabe. This book offers a multidisciplinary examination of the complex contemporary politics in Zimbabwe, taking seriously such issues as gender, misogyny, militarism, violence, media, identity, modes of accumulation, the ethnicization of politics, attempts to open lines of credit and FDI, national healing, and the national question as key variables not only of a complete political culture but also of difficult transitional politics.
Author(s): Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni, Pedzisai Ruhanya
Series: African Histories and Modernities
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 458
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Introduction: Transition in Zimbabwe: From Robert Gabriel Mugabe to Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa: A Repetition Without Change
The November 2017 Military Coup and the Rise of Mnangagwa to Power
The Mnangagwa Regime: Second Republic or Repetition Without Change?
Organisation of the Book
Going Forward
References
Part I: Colonialism, Nationalism and Political Culture
Chapter 2: The Political Culture of Zimbabwe: Continuities and Discontinuities
Introduction
Colonisation and Domestication of the Traditional Authorities After Military Defeat: Ndebele and Shona Groups’ Experiences
Exclusion of Blacks After Sidelining and Undermining the Shona, Ndebele and Other Groups
Political Culture and Practices Under Colonialism: Economic and Political Marginalization of Blacks and Domestication of the Traditional Authorities
Resistance to Colonization by the Black Populations
Zimbabwe’s Political Culture After Independence
Attempts at Promoting Racial and Ethnic Harmony
Resistance by Urban Populations
Resistance to ZANU–PF Hegemony and Gukurahundi Atrocities
The Post-colonial State’s War on Women: Operation Clean-Up (1983)
The Revolt of War Veterans against ZANU–PF Over Their Unpaid Pensions and Compensation (1996–7)
Operation Murambatsvina (Operation Remove the Rubbish)
Racial Tension and Class Confrontations Over Land: Hondo Yeminda (the War Over Land)
Operation Makavhotera Papi? (2008)
Militarization, Securitization of Resources and the Coup Against Mugabe in 2017: The Development of a Militarized Political Culture in Zimbabwe
Operation Hakudzokwi (Operation No Return)
Conclusion
The Political Culture of Zimbabwe
References
Chapter 3: The Zimbabwean National Question: Key Components and Unfinished Business
Introduction
Background
Mapping the Contours of the Zimbabwe National Problem
Framing the National Issues in Zimbabwe
The Nationalist Framework of a Common Vision
The Postcolony of Zimbabwe
Defining Post-2000 Zimbabwean National Issues
Post-July 2013 Contours of the National Question
The Hashtag Civic Movements and the Countdown to the Fall of Mugabe
Towards an Unclear Political Future
Conclusions
References
Chapter 4: Opposition Politics and the Culture of Polarisation in Zimbabwe, 1980–2018
Introduction
Development of a Political Culture: Tending Towards Polarisation
The Creation of a Party-State: Landscape for Opposition Politics
Political Players and Relations Post-Independence (1980–1990)
Civil Society and Opposition Politics
The Workers’ Movement
The Student Movement
Why Civil Society and Party State Relations Soured
Weak Opposition Party Politics in Zimbabwe
Broadening a Counter-Hegemony and Consolidation of Oppositional Politics
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Understanding Zimbabwe’s Political Culture: Media and Civil Society
Introduction
Understanding Political Culture
Civil Society and Democratisation in Zimbabwe
The Media as Part of Zimbabwean Civil Society
Conclusion
References
Part II: Identity, Militarisation and Transitional Politics
Chapter 6: The Identity Politics Factor in Zimbabwe’s Transition Politics
Introduction
Identity Politics: What Are Its Political Strands?
Identity Politics Shapes Transition Politics: Easton’s Systems Theory
Identity Politics: A Dominant Political Culture in Zimbabwe
History of Transition in Zimbabwe: From Racial Nationalism to Politics of Liberation Entitlement
Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: The Ethnicization of Political Mobilization in Zimbabwe: The Case of Pro-Mthwakazi Movements
Introduction
The Historical Context of Ethnic Rivalry and Conflict in Zimbabwe
The Ethnicization of Liberation Movement Narratives
Characterization of Ethnic Politics from Pro-Mthwakazi Perceptions
Perceived Unequal Development
Perceived Discrimination in Employment and Promotion
Teacher Deployment and Failure Rate
Linguistic, Cultural and Religious Aspects
The Humiliating Unity Accord of 1987
Perceived Ethnicization of Party Politics
Political Mobilization on Ethnic and Regional Appeal
Possible Options for Addressing Ethnic-Based Political Mobilization
Implementation of Constitutional Provisions for Devolution
An Effective and Resourced NPRC to Address Gukurahundi
Affirmative Action to Compensate for Setbacks in Matabeleland
Economic Development, Rebuilding Infrastructure and Job Creation
Plurality in Remembrance of Liberation Legacy
Constitutional Clause on Exit Referendum
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: The Militarisation of State Institutions in Zimbabwe, 2002–2017
Introduction
Zimbabwe’s Competitive Authoritarian System
Authoritarian Erosion and Internal Contradictions in ZANU–PF
Elite Fragmentation in Women’s and Youth Leagues
Comparative Analyses of Elite Incohesion in ZANU–PF
Lack of Elite Consensus in the Security Apparatus?
Grassroots Incohesion: Grace Mugabe at the Centre
State-Controlled Media’s Capture by Military Interests
Private Media and Coverage of the Military Coup
Military Seizure of the ZANU–PF Party Internal Electoral Processes
The Militarized Judiciary and Its Role in the Coup
Conclusion
References
Part III: Social Media, Democracy and Political Discourse
Chapter 9: The Media and Politics in the Context of the “Third Chimurenga” in Zimbabwe
References
Chapter 10: Social Media and the Concept of Dissidence in Zimbabwean Politics
Introduction
Social Media and Dissidence
Method and Theory
Tracing the Dissident Trope 2000–2010
Social Media Dissidence in Perspective
Data Presentation and Discussion
Baba Jukwa Typology
#ThisFlag Typology
#Tajamuka/Sesjikile Typology
Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: The Tabloidization of Political News in Zimbabwe: End of Quality Press?
Introduction
Background to the Media Standards Debate
The Expulsion of Joice Mujuru from ZANU–PF and Government
Tabloids and Tabloidisation
Tabloid Journalism
Tabloidisation, Media and Democracy
Tabloidisation Indicators
Methodology and Theoretical Framework
Key Findings
Media Framing of Joice Mujuru
The Herald Frames
Daily News Frames
NewsDay Frames
Tabloidisation of Coverage
The Herald
Daily News
NewsDay
Forces Behind the Tabloidisation of Political News in Zimbabwe
Tabloidisation of Political News in Zimbabwe: The Worst Case Scenario
Conclusions on the Tabloidisation of Political News in Zimbabwe
References
Part IV: Post-Mugabe Economy, Gender and Operation Restore Legacy
Chapter 12: Primitive Accumulation and Mugabe’s Extroverted Economy: What Now Under the Second Republic?
Introduction
The State and Development in Africa
(Mis-) Understanding the African State
Critiquing Zimbabwe’s Economic Development Trajectory
Primitive Accumulation and Renewed Rush for African Resources
Zimbabwe’s Extroverted Economy
The National Question, Sovereign Accumulation and Regional Integration
Inclusive Social Development
Conclusion
References
Chapter 13: The Idea of a New Zimbabwe Post-Mugabe
Introduction
The Zimbabwean ‘Problem’
The Fall of Mugabe and the Rise of Mnangagwa
Fixing the Zimbabwean Problem
Building Trust and Confidence
Democratic Processes
Administrative Processes
Getting the Most Out of Limited Public Resources
Corruption
Resource Wastage
Public Procurement Process
A Culture of Constitutionalism
Rule of Law
Respect for State Institutions
Redefining the Relationship Between the State and Its Citizens
Economic Reforms
Currency Reforms
Disposal of Non-Performing State-Owned Enterprises
Investment
The Stimulation of Local Production and the Role of the Reserve Bank
Vertical Power-Sharing
The Democratic Benefit
The Development Benefit
Keeping the Nation Together
International Integration
Conclusion
References
Chapter 14: Misogyny, Sexism and Hegemonic Masculinity in Zimbabwe’s Operation Restore Legacy
Introduction
Background and Context
Literature Review: Gendered Zimbabwean Public Sphere
Theoretical Context: Hegemonic Masculinity
Methodology
Findings
‘General Chiwenga give us a boob-less commander-in-chief’
‘Like Jezebel, Grace Authored the Downfall of her Husband’
Conclusion
References
Chapter 15: Foreign Direct Investment in the Post-Mugabe Era
Introduction
What Is Foreign Direct Investment?
Understanding Sources of FDI
The Nature of MNEs
Motives of MNEs
Host Market Determinants of FDI
The Role of Government in Business Internationalization
Capital Market and Inward FDI
Conclusion
References
Postscript: A Tale of Broken Promises
A Tale of Broken Promises: Zimbabwe After Mugabe
False Expectations, False Change
Failed Political Reform
Fixed and Flawed Elections
Leopards Can’t Change Their Spots
A Corrupt and Predatory Elite
A Failed Economy
Revolving Coup Door?
Index
