Zimbabwe

ZANU PF supporters gesture after attending the final rally at the National Sports Stadium in Harare
Blurred Lines

Zimbabwe: How Zanu PF uses traditional chiefs to buy votes in rural areas

The Zanu PF party has long been accused by civil society organisations and opposition leaders of using state resources and traditional chiefs ... to perpetuate the ruling party’s ideologies and influence elections particularly in their heartland: the rural areas. The recent comments made by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, when he threatened a local chief, is indicative of how Zanu PF exerts its control over traditional leaders. 

Robert Mugabe
spooky saviour

Zimbabwe: Is the Mugabe-backed G40 resurrecting? 

Over the past few weeks, a pressure group linked to Zanu PF has been seen making moves to back Saviour Kasukuwere, who is a former local government ... minister and member of the beleaguered ruling party faction Generation 40 (G40), to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 general polls. The Zanu PF also accuses the G40 of being behind the high court challenge on Mnangagwa’s legitimacy as the ruling party's leader. Could this be the rise of the G40 from the cemetery?

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Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa attends a rally against Western sanctions in Harare
same script, different cast?

Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa’s crackdown on civil society mirrors Mugabe’s era

At the dawn of his presidency, Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa promised a new era marked by rule of law, democracy and good governance. When the ... military deposed Robert Mugabe in 2017 after 40 years of authoritarian leadership, Zimbabweans hoped that his legacy of political violence, repressive laws and restrictions on freedom of expression and association would disappear with him. However, four years on, civil society spaces are once again under attack.

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