Of Politics and Anarchy: Zimbabwe's 2008 Run-off Presidential Elections in Context

Abstract

Following the successful subvertion of the electoral process by President Mugabe in the 2008 run-off presidential elections in Zimbabwe and the subsequent formation of the Government of National Unity, this paper attempts to offer insights that may explain President Mugabe's refusal to honor the outcome of the electoral process and the subsequent degeneration into authoritarian and repressive politics. Based partly on international relations theories and theories on the nature of political authority in Africa, this paper argues that the conduct of President Mugabe and the rul- ing Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) can best be explained from three perspectives: the self-preservation; the apologetic and the neo-patrimonial perspective. Relying on international relations theories, this paper offers possible insights into the transformation of Zimbabwe into authoritarian politics. To give context to the arguments being made, the paper starts by giving a brief history of elec- tions in Zimbabwe. This is followed by a look at the power sharing agreement concluded by Zimbabwe's warring parties in 2008. Next, the paper considers the country's descend into anarchy and the international community's response to the crisis. The paper then offers three possible explanations to President Mugabe and ZANU-PF's refusal to yield power