THE POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE, ABUSES OF POWER AND THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PREDICAMENT OF POST-COLONIAL AFRICAN STATES. THE DILEMMA OF POST-INDEPENDENT ZIMBABWE

Abstract

Ponte Academic JournalMar 2021, Volume 77, Issue 3 THE POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE, ABUSES OF POWER AND THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PREDICAMENT OF POST-COLONIAL AFRICAN STATES. THE DILEMMA OF POST-INDEPENDENT ZIMBABWEAuthor(s): Addmore T. Muruviwa ,Nono G. Tshabalala, Tapiwa G. MuruviwaJ. Ponte - Mar 2021 - Volume 77 - Issue 3 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2021.3.3 Abstract:From 1980 onwards, one of the fundamental challenges that have been experienced by many Zimbabweans like any other post-colonial African societies is the rampant abuses of power by the post-independence national bourgeoisie. With this in mind, this study was triggered by a need to directly address the abuses of power by post-independent Zimbabwe’s government and thus, the fundamental objective of this paper was an illustration of Frantz Fanon’s contribution on post-colonial African states in relation to post-independent Zimbabwe’s political and economic predicament. A qualitative research method was followed. The findings showed that regardless of the available prospects for post-independent Zimbabwe’s national-development, there was an authoritarian government that abdicated its responsibilities to the masses by assuming the role of a parasitic national bourgeoisie that facilitates continued extraction of raw materials and exploitation of both society and resources. The study concluded that, what lies at the centre of post-independent Zimbabwe’s political and economic predicament is deliberate choices by senior members within the ZANU-PF government who for a period of more than three decades has had enable the exploitation of both society and national resources at the expense of national-development. Beyond that, the paper provided recommendations for a better post-colonial society. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password