Zimbabwe's Eroding Authoritarianism

Journal of Democracy

Volumn 8, Issue 1, 1997, Pages

  Sithole, Masipula ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE   (Zimbabwe)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 16744361854     PISSN: 10455736     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1353/jod.1997.0013     Document Type: Article

References (15)

1. Alfred Stepan, "On the Tasks of a Democratic Opposition," in Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner, eds., The Global Resurgence of Democracy (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993), 61-69. For the theoretical part of my essay I have relied heavily on Stepan's article.
2. A case can be made that the real period of colonial authoritarianism was during Prime Minister Ian Smith's white-dominated Rhodesian Front regime of 1962-79; the period from 1890 to 1962 featured a less harsh "paternalism."
3. For an analysis of the salience of ethnicity in Zimbabwe's politics, see Masipula Sithole, "Ethnicity and Democratization in Zimbabwe: From Confrontation to Accommodation," in H. Glickman, ed., Ethnicity and Democratization in Africa (Atlanta, Ga.: African Studies Association Press, 1995), 121-60.
4. For the early foundations of the international dimension of the nationalist movement, see John Day, International Nationalism: The Extra-Territorial Relations of Southern Rhodesian African Nationalists (London: Routledge, 1968). For an analysis of later periods, see Jeff Davidow, A Peace in Southern Africa: The Lancaster House Conference on Rhodesia (Boulder, Colo.: Westview, 1984), and Stephen Stedman's authoritative Peacemaking in Civil War: International Mediation in Zimbabwe, 1974-1980 (Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner, 1991).
5. For the early foundations of the international dimension of the nationalist movement, see John Day, International Nationalism: The Extra-Territorial Relations of Southern Rhodesian African Nationalists (London: Routledge, 1968). For an analysis of later periods, see Jeff Davidow, A Peace in Southern Africa: The Lancaster House Conference on Rhodesia (Boulder, Colo.: Westview, 1984), and Stephen Stedman's authoritative Peacemaking in Civil War: International Mediation in Zimbabwe, 1974-1980 (Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner, 1991).
6. For the early foundations of the international dimension of the nationalist movement, see John Day, International Nationalism: The Extra-Territorial Relations of Southern Rhodesian African Nationalists (London: Routledge, 1968). For an analysis of later periods, see Jeff Davidow, A Peace in Southern Africa: The Lancaster House Conference on Rhodesia (Boulder, Colo.: Westview, 1984), and Stephen Stedman's authoritative Peacemaking in Civil War: International Mediation in Zimbabwe, 1974-1980 (Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner, 1991).
7. See Ronald Weitzer, "In Search of Regime Security: Zimbabwe Since Independence," Journal of Modern African Studies 22 (December 1984): 529-58; Jonathan Moyo, Voting for Democracy: Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe (Harare: University of Zimbabwe Press, 1991), 202-22; and Andrew Meldrum, "Drought, Death and Dissidents," Africa Report, January-February 1993, 32-35. Amnesty International's report for the year 1985 (pp. 115-19) also documents abuses.
8. See Ronald Weitzer, "In Search of Regime Security: Zimbabwe Since Independence," Journal of Modern African Studies 22 (December 1984): 529-58; Jonathan Moyo, Voting for Democracy: Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe (Harare: University of Zimbabwe Press, 1991), 202-22; and Andrew Meldrum, "Drought, Death and Dissidents," Africa Report, January-February 1993, 32-35. Amnesty International's report for the year 1985 (pp. 115-19) also documents abuses.
9. See Ronald Weitzer, "In Search of Regime Security: Zimbabwe Since Independence," Journal of Modern African Studies 22 (December 1984): 529-58; Jonathan Moyo, Voting for Democracy: Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe (Harare: University of Zimbabwe Press, 1991), 202-22; and Andrew Meldrum, "Drought, Death and Dissidents," Africa Report, January-February 1993, 32-35. Amnesty International's report for the year 1985 (pp. 115-19) also documents abuses.
10. In 1978, Ian Smith enticed Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, and Chief Jeremiah Chirau (leaders of three moderate-to-conservative parties) into an "internal settlement" that excluded the externally based liberation movements led by Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo.
11. See Eddison J.M. Zvobgo, "An Agenda for Democracy, Peace and Sustainable Development in the SADC Region" (address delivered to parliamentarians at the CPA/IPU Joint Dinner, Harare, Zimbabwe, 14 November 1995).
12. See Zvobgo's interview in the weekly Financial Gazette (Harare), 18 July 1995.
13. See Stepan, "Tasks of a Democratic Opposition," 64.
14. The six participating political parties are: Democratic Party, Front for Popular Democracy, National Democratic Union, United Front, United Parties, and Zimbabwe People's Party. ZANU-Ndonga, FORUM Party of Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwe Unity Movement did not take part.
15. For instance, the 1992 Act entitles the ruling party to $3 million for party activities, including the required deposit payment for every candidate contesting legislative and presidential elections. Also, the registrar-general, who is responsible for administering elections, and the chairman of the Electoral Supervisory Commission, charged with overseeing the impartiality of elections, have been "card-carrying" ZANU members. Furthermore, Zimbabwe's radio and television networks are state-run, which in effect means that they are controlled by ZANU.