The Rise and Demise of the “New Dispensation” in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The history of violence, political intolerance, and polarisation in Zimbabwe is rooted in the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)’s view of opposition parties as an existential threat, not only to itself, but also to the state itself. ZANU-PF views opposition parties as counter-revolutionaries that work with the “enemy” to “reverse the gains of independence”. Since 1980, ZANU-PF sought to establish itself as the only political party with the “right” to exist and rule Zimbabwe. This claim is based on its participation in the liberation struggle. This chapter focuses on ZANU-PF’s response to the August 1st protests that followed the July 2018 contested Presidential elections and what that means for the “new dispensation”.