Governance In Zimbabwe Research Articles

Barriers to the Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Rural Local Governance: The Case of Bikita District, Zimbabwe

The paper was qualitative and inductive through the interpretivist’s paradigm. It sought to access the barriers to the participation of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Bikita’s local governance in Zimbabwe. Data collection was through key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FDGs) and observations. The KIIs targeted the chiefs, headman, councillors, state actors and Zimbabwe’s Association for the Visually Handicapped whereas the FDGs included the disabled and the non-disabled. The sampling was purposive. The human rights-based approach as espoused in the critical disability theory framed the empirical. The paper unearthed that Bikita Rural District Council structures were not disability inclusive. PwDs were marginalised in local governance/development processes. This led to higher incidences of abject poverty. The paper charged that the lack of inclusivity is in itself discriminatory. It argued that the drive towards inclusivity should include inter alia disability-mainstreaming, provision of disability-accessible information and disability awareness campaigns.

Civic Space Constraints and Crowdsourced Governance in Zimbabwe’s Second Republic

Civic Space Constraints and Crowdsourced Governance in Zimbabwe’s Second Republic

Strengthening Corporate Governance in Zimbabwe: A Focus on Board Duties and Responsibilities

Strengthening Corporate Governance in Zimbabwe: A Focus on Board Duties and Responsibilities

Violence and Corruption of Megachurch Leaders: Unravelling Silent Coloniality in Zimbabwe

This theoretical article argues that megachurches are an inadequately problematised factor in the Zimbabwean crisis and uses, as examples of violent and corrupt megachurch leaders, Emmanuel Makandiwa, Uebert Angel, and Passion Java. As Zimbabwe moves towards elections in 2023, ZANU-PF has resorted to using megachurches to enact propaganda, create voter empathy, and stir up violence, dividing the religious electorate along party lines in the process. The article is couched in decoloniality theory to position megachurch leaders within instability and as thwarting democracy in Zimbabwe. I respond to two questions: how do Makandiwa, Angel, and Java contribute to thwarting democracy while promoting corruption and violence? And, how can religion be approached from the perspective of decolonial thinking to reverse the crisis that has been created by prophets in Zimbabwe? I end by arguing that the Zimbabwean crisis takes various forms and that the role of megachurch leaders in finding a solution and in reconstructing narratives of peace and good governance in Zimbabwe cannot be ignored.

An Analysis of Correlations between Institutional Governance and Economic Development in Zimbabwe

Abstract The main focus of this study was to analyse the correlations between institutional governance and economic development using annual time series data covering the period 1996 to 2019. Since there has not been much attention given to the role of institutional governance in facilitating the economic recovery in Zimbabwe, the economy has failed to register sustainable economic growth post-2000. To give an insight into the major variable excluded in the formulation of national policies, an econometric Pearson correlation model for correlations between institutional governance and economic development was applied. Economic development was measured using GDP per capita growth while institutional governance was measured by four variables, namely, the rule of law index, voice and accountability index, regulatory quality index, and political stability index. The empirical outcome reveals a strong positive correlation between institutional governance variables and GDP per capita growth. Hence, this study recommends that Parliament should exercise its powers to hold public institutions and all other state organs accountable for respecting the rule of law and maintaining political stability; macro-stabilisation institutions should implement sound economic policies; and there should be an immediate response by institutions to curb illicit economic operations to minimise economic leakages. These reforms need institutional political independence to be implemented and can facilitate economic development. Therefore, instead of targeting only macroeconomic indicators as a way out to resolve the economic crisis, this study provides policy makers in Zimbabwe with insight into recommendations for institutional reforms to improve the effectiveness of institutional governance to promote sustainable economic development. Keywords: Correlation, Governance, Institution, Economic development, Zimbabwe

Corporate governance in a weak legal environment: a systematic review focusing on Zimbabwe

PurposeLiterature shows that corporate governance matters more in countries with weak legal environments. The purpose of this study is to synthesise and map research that has been done so far on corporate governance in Zimbabwe, a country that has been characterised by weak legal systems and lack of respect for property rights.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 20 articles indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases was carried out to establish the trends and evolution of corporate governance in Zimbabwe.FindingsThe articles reviewed looked at the association between corporate governance attributes and firm performance, disclosure of information and economic growth. The proportion of independent directors was found to significantly affect firm performance and information disclosure in most of the studies. The majority of the studies used descriptive statistics and simple regression in their methodologies. The stakeholder theory is the most used in the studies reviewed.Originality/valueThe study highlights the need to strengthen the state infrastructure that enhances corporate governance at the firm level. When state-owned companies adhere to good corporate governance practices, this can cascade to the private sector.

Challenges with Online Teaching and Learning Under Covid-19 Lockdown in Selected Zimbabwean Universities

In conventional participatory paradigm, it is significant to involve citizens in decision- making processes in projects that affect their lives. Citizen participation enhances transparency and legitimacy as well as accountability and responsiveness from those entrusted with public office. In Zimbabwe, the constitutionalisation of local governance has seen a provision obligating Central Government to support devolution through the provision of financial resources. This article explores opportunities provided by the constitution through an elaborate discussion of devolution rolled out by the Government in Zimbabwe. Practical examples of the implementation of devolution projects in different districts in the country are given. The presentation of financial allocation of devolution funds are evidence of commitment by Government to implement devolution as a community empowerment initiative.Gleanings from available literature concluded that it has been worthwhile to constitutionalise Local Governance in Zimbabwe.

9 - Digital Technologies and Election Management in Zimbabwe: Pseudo-democratic Transition and Contorted Delirium?


 
 
 This article examines the extent to which the adoption of biometric voter registration in election management in Zimbabwe has appeared a phantom on the horizon regarding democratisation. While the emergence of digitalised election management brought with it expectations of credible electoral processes and outcomes in a country with a history of rampant electoral malpractices in manually managed processes, the phenomenon is yet to yield positive results regarding democratisation in Zimbabwe. Despite the shift from manually managed electoral process to a digitalised approach, the quagmire of irregularities has persisted in Zimbabwean elections. This is largely attributable to the trajectory of governance in Zimbabwe which appears to militate against the exploitation of the opportunities presented by digital technologies in democratising elections in the county. This said, the conclusion drawn from this article is that the configuration of political power, particularly issues of the breach of the democratic principles of separation of power and separation of personnel, are disingenuous to technology-induced democratic transition to credible elections. Secondary research was used to obtain data for this article as data were gathered from books, journal articles, newspaper articles and institutional reports.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Torque Mude, Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics and Public Management, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. Research Fellow, Regional Integration and AfCFTA Cluster, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Kigali, Rwanda. Email: mudetorque@gmail.com; mudeta@staff.msu.ac.zw; torque.mude@un.org
 
 

“Working within the System”: The Case of Stephen Chifunyise’s Waiting for Constitution

This article investigates the writing techniques of one of Zimbabwe’s prolific playwrights, Stephen Chifunyise. By working within the system, this paper demonstrates how Chifunyise’s political plays are not overtly subversive, but liminal and uniquely tailored to critique the status quo in seemingly “balanced” political and social undertones. Chifunyise to some extent demonstrates the possibilities of working within an intolerant system without risking being censored, imprisoned or exiled, as has been the norm in postcolonial Zimbabwe. The article argues that in an ever-expanding unequal terrain of power and class, where fear and suspicion were palpable, and options narrowing from day to day, it was imperative for artists to innovate ways and means of protesting against the status quo. The study discusses the implications of covert and overt techniques in critiquing political excesses. It highlights how Chifunyise’s stylistic choices were able to navigate the constrictions of the rigid political environment created by the ever-growing narcissism of the ruling party, ZANU PF. The article attempts to evaluate the contributions of theatre towards issues of democracy, tolerance and good governance in Zimbabwe by positioning Chifunyise’s plays as theatre that was committed to the socio-political transformation of the Zimbabwean society.

Local Governance as a Creature of the Statute: Decentralization and Local Governance in Zimbabwe

Local Governance as a Creature of the Statute: Decentralization and Local Governance in Zimbabwe

English

The purpose of this paper is to unpack the extent to which citizen participation has been enhanced in local governance in Zimbabwe. The paper points out that citizen participation in local governance have proved to be of significance to all decision-making processes. Legislative provisions guiding citizen participation in local governance in Zimbabwe are prescribed in the Urban Councils’ Act of 1996 which seeks to involve citizens, through Residents Associations and other institutions. In addition, sections of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which provide for citizen participation were given in the paper. The author concluded that the commandist approach to governance, a mind-set of the liberation movement, has spoiled citizen participation in Zimbabwe.    Key words: Democracy, local governance, participatory democracy, participatory space, third world states. &nbsp

Democracy, Governance and Legitimacy in Zimbabwe since the November 2017 Military Coup

This article focuses on the democracy and legitimacy debates in Zimbabwe after the ouster of Robert Mugabe from power by his erstwhile ally, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in November 2017. President Mnangagwa popularized the terms “Second Republic” and “New Dispensation” to show that his regime differed from Mugabe’s in terms of governance style. The position of this article is that Mnangagwa’s regime could not abandon the system established under the reign of Mugabe. Instead, it argues that the Second Republic reflects continuities of the Mugabe era being transposed into a quasi-military edifice whose commandist approaches denigrate cries for democracy and transparency. This qualitative research draws on data from interviews with political elites in the opposition and ruling parties as well as secondary sources.

Discussing inclusive development and governance in Zimbabwe: Pragmatizing Hunhu/ Ubuntu philosophy

In this paper, I reflect on whether the new Zimbabwe government under the presidency of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has the capacity to arrest the developmental challenges facing the country in order to bring about inclusive development which will see the needs of the marginalized or excluded groups such as the poor, women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities being addressed. I argue that two of the biggest problems bedeviling Zimbabwe today are chronic poverty and disease, which are a legacy of the Zimbabwe government led by ousted former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe. I contend that Mugabe’s government failed to manage its politics, which, in turn, resulted in the decline of Zimbabwe’s economy in the last two decades leading to high unemployment, hyperinflation, brain drain, cash crisis and the outbreak of diseases among a host of problems. My claim is that the effects of the problems listed above are still being felt today. I submit that although the philosophy of hunhu/ubuntu became endangered during Mugabe’s reign, it can still be deployed in the new dispensation to bring about inclusive development by coming up with policies that will attract investors through improving relations with the developed world as well as dealing with the problem of corruption. Keywords: Governance, Development, Inclusive Development, Marginalization, Hunhu/Ubuntu.

When bullets replace ballots : the role of SADC in promoting peace through democratic governance in Zimbabwe

When bullets replace ballots : the role of SADC in promoting peace through democratic governance in Zimbabwe

African Traditional Art Forms, Democratic Governance and Economic Growth in Zimbabwe

The article seeks to explore the role of African oral traditional art forms and governance in Zimbabwe for economic development. African philosophies, embedded in oral literature were part and parcel of the people’s life. Everybody participated in the activities that affected them in society. Thus African peoples used oral literature, which is dependent on the performer who formulates it on a specific occasion—this forms part of issues of governance. Some problems, which people, and Zimbabweans in particular are facing, emanate from colonialism, and have led them to believe that they had no culture or anything to shape their way of thinking. These problems have always been there, and people had a way of circumventing them through the philosophies that were embedded in their oral art forms. It is against this backdrop that the researcher seeks to explore the place of oral art forms; which include proverbs, riddles, folktales among others; and governance as vehicles to drive economic growth in Zimbabwe. The article is based on a conceptual method of study, where examples of oral art forms used have been taken from various speech communities in Africa. The researcher’s arguments are guided by the Afrocentricapproach and the discussion establishes that issues of democracy and governance were part and parcel of indigenous people’s way of doing things, in a bid to achieve economic growth in their societies.

The Institution of Traditional Leadership and Local Governance in Zimbabwe

This article describes how traditional leaders play important developmental, administrative and political roles in rural areas, despite modern state structures. They regulate rural life, control access to land, and settle various disputes. They are respected leaders in their communities. The existence of traditional leaders means that both the decentralisation and the strengthening of local governance are not taking place in a vacuum. Documentary sources such as the Constitution of Zimbabwe; the Traditional Leaders Act (2000) and Chiefs and Headmen Act (1982); newspapers and unpublished non-governmental organisations (NGOs) evaluations and reports were used in this article. Traditional leaders have played a pivotal role in ensuring that the ZANU-PF government remains in power since 1980. In principle, traditional leaders should not be drawn into party politics and their role should remain one of the neutral leadership. If the traditional leader assumes a party-political role, one should appoint a substitute to handle their traditional role to avoid a conflict of interest.

Youth Participation in Governance and Structural Economic Transformation in Zimbabwe

Youth Participation in Governance and Structural Economic Transformation in Zimbabwe

Forest protected areas governance in Zimbabwe: Shift needed away from a long history of local community exclusion

In this literature review based paper we explored the concept of exclusion of local communities from accessing resources in forest protected areas (FPAs) in Zimbabwe. We discussed the colonial and post-colonial forms, causes and mechanisms of exclusion and their social, economic and ecological outcomes. We examined the range of powers embodied in and exercised through various mechanisms, processes and social relations and their impact on local communities' access to FPA resources and associated benefits along the historical trajectory of forest governance in Zimbabwe. Results showed that the forms and extent of exclusion changed over time in tandem with the shifting political and economic landscape. During the colonial period, it was total exclusion whereby people were evicted from forest land as well as being denied access to basic resources for their livelihoods. Local communities' access to low value FPA resources improved during the post-colonial period but access to high value resources like commercial timber as well as sharing income benefits derived from FPA commercial activities remained a pipe dream. Regulation, legitimation, force and markets constituted the mixture of the power elements that FPA governing authorities used to exclude local communities. These powers remained intact despite attempts at collaborative governance in the 1990s. However, from the year 2000, local communities expressed their dissatisfaction with the centralised exclusionary governance system by invading the FPAs rendering them ungovernable. There is therefore a need for policy reform within the FPA sector to improve the current dire situation.

Decentralised water governance in Zimbabwe: Disorder within order

The Decentralised Water reform process in Zimbabwe has largely been informed by the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) process based on the 1992 Dublin Principles on Water. The attempt to reform one sector (water), under the IWRM rubric, when other key sectors are in disarray (agriculture, energy) and when social and government institutions, in general, are not functioning as they should, made it more complicated. The decentralised water reform process, with support from a number of donors, was perceived to be a technical process which would result in better water management in Zimbabwe. The research in Zimbabwe, however, shows that instead of establishing order within the water sector, the reform process has largely been disorderly since it downplays the political nature of the water reform process. In attempting to change the water legislation, the reform brought out the different and competing interests on water. The economic crisis, the contested land reform process that ensued, resulted in disorder which benefited those who are politically connected. This paper contributes to the scholarship on the need to have a better political economy approach to development interventions such as water reform as they have to play out in political, social and economic contexts which will impact on human livelihoods.

Social Change: Urban Governance and Urbanization in Zimbabwe

Urbanization is an essential determinant of social change. For social change to take place, the process of urbanization requires extensive management (through urban governance). This paper outlines the context of Zimbabwe’s urban governance system by focusing on the historical and recent trends in urban governance and urbanization. In particular, our emphasis is placed on how pre- and post-colonial governments advanced social change through urban governance. In both pre- and post-independence Zimbabwe, local government is a political reality that ruling regimes manipulates, associates with and advance political interests. Politics continue to shape and destabilize a functioning, independent, and autonomous form of urban governance in Zimbabwe. Urban governance remains under incessant threat from central government. Central-local government contestations are leading to poor service delivery; a development that is affecting social change. The article argues that the politics, governance, and institutional behaviors in urban centers of Zimbabwe deteriorated severely calling for a restructuring of urban governance.