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Papers by percyslage chigora

African Studies Quarterly, 2015

Rabah Arezki, Thorvaldur Gylfason, and Amadou Sy (eds.). 2011. Beyond the Curse: Policies to Harn... more Rabah Arezki, Thorvaldur Gylfason, and Amadou Sy (eds.). 2011. Beyond the Curse: Policies to Harness the power of Natural Resources. Washington: International Monetary Fund. 275 pp. For any state with abundant natural resources, it is taken as given that it becomes the key to unlocking economic development and ensuring sustainable economic growth. As it turns out in many cases, especially in developing countries, managing natural resources for the benefit of the citizenry has proven illusory. Endowed with natural resources, some countries have found it problematic to transform and harness their resources for development purposes. The book seeks to illuminate the various impediments and prospects for harnessing natural resources for developmental purposes. It is divided into five parts. Part 1, with two contributions, provides an analysis of issues regarding the commodity markets and how they are affected by the macroeconomic environment. Using various case studies, Gylfason's co...

Hemispheres.Studies on Cultures and Societies

Zimbabwe entered the 21st century experiencing an economic decline. This has had a great bearing ... more Zimbabwe entered the 21st century experiencing an economic decline. This has had a great bearing on the country’s youth in terms of employment. Young people in urban areas have been especially badly affected. The cause of such a high unemployment level has been a contentious issue. Contending issues have centred around, on one hand, the external environment impinging negatively on the Zimbabwean economy and on the other hand a failed state and economic mismanagement. Rising unemployment has had various impacts on the young people’s economic, political and economic plight. This research analyses the various competing factors that have led to unprecedented levels of urban unemployment in Zimbabwe in the 21 st century. It also considers the effects of unemployment on Zimbabwean society as a whole and suggests ways of dealing with this problem. Methodologically, the research relies on secondary sources and relies on already existing and available interviews in the media.

Journal of Public Administration and Development Alternatives

On 29 July 2020, the government of Zimbabwe and representatives of the former white farmers signe... more On 29 July 2020, the government of Zimbabwe and representatives of the former white farmers signed the Global Compensation Agreement (GCA) in which the government committed to paying a total of USD3.5billion to the farmers for the developments instituted on the farms before the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). The deal was guided by section 72(3) of the 2013 constitution of Zimbabwe. The GCA provides for the establishment of various joint committees for the evaluation of the developments in question, the fundraising process and the payment procedures. While this is seen as being a show of commitment by the government of Zimbabwe to close the land chapter amicably, there are mixed voices on the development notwithstanding that the decision was accepted by 94.49% of Zimbabweans who voted in the 2013 referendum (ZEC 2013). It is, therefore, the purpose of this article is to look at the challenges and prospects of the land compensation agreement as a conflict resolution move pu...

Enhancing development largely hinges on research. Researchers particularly social scientists have... more Enhancing development largely hinges on research. Researchers particularly social scientists have faced a number of challenges in their attempt to arrive at and get the truth and facts. Much more is in developing countries where challenges of development are far too many than solutions. It is the purpose of this paper to expose the limitations that social scientists have to grapple with and offers some ways of circumventing these challenges as researchers attempt to identify, and analyse development issues in Africa.

Mozambique got its independence in 1975 when the FRELIMO government removed the colonial power, P... more Mozambique got its independence in 1975 when the FRELIMO government removed the colonial power, Portugal, from colonial rule after an armed struggle. Peace did not last for long as RENAMO, a political movement which was created in 1977 by Rhodesia and supported by the South African government, waged a new resistance to counter FRELIMO government through the barrel of the gun. The war had far reaching implications in Mozambique, especially in areas where the battles were fought. At community level the war had negative consequences towards development. It is the purpose of this paper to analyse the impact of civil war in rural Mozambique's Chokwe District. The paper examined measures that were taken to encourage development after the war both by the government and the community. The findings of the research indicate that the civil war had negative impact on the Chokwe community and the government has made strides in improving the livelihood of the people in Chokwe District.

Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 2010

Since the turn of the millennium Africa remains the poorest, technologically underdeveloped, debt... more Since the turn of the millennium Africa remains the poorest, technologically underdeveloped, debt ridden, and economically marginalized from the rest of the world. Drought, disease, civil conflict and poor governance have exacerbated the situation. Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to climatic change, economic decline, HIV and AIDS, and political instability. In fact, food shortages have become the order of the day in many households in both urban and rural areas in developing world. When the food shortages that characterized Zimbabwe reached their peak in 2007 and 2008, the rural communities in Chitse and Kamutsenzere wards of Mt Darwin District, in response, were often seen employing a variety of coping strategies in order to minimize the risk and severity brought about by the famine and successive droughts. It is, therefore, the purpose of this paper to identify factors that led to the food shortages being experienced in both wards as well as examining the coping s...

Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 2007

Zimbabwe at the turn of the new Millennium has received widespread condemnation particularly with... more Zimbabwe at the turn of the new Millennium has received widespread condemnation particularly with the implementation of the controversial land reform. The image portrayed abroad has been tattered because of reports of violence, instability and abandonment of the rule of law, which has created a serious challenge to modern developments on democracy and human rights. Zimbabwe has seemingly lost many friends especially those from the West and/or West controlled institutions, through suspension from, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Commonwealth; the US and the European Union has applied targeted sanctions; Scandavian countries which have supported Zimbabwe’s social services, especially health, have cut aid and have threatened to close their missions. From such a standpoint the paper seeks to examine the causes behind this strain in relations between Zimbabwe and western global actors. It will also analyse the extent to which Zimbabwe as an actor in the International System...

The formation of a government of national unity in 2009 at the backdrop of September 2008 Global ... more The formation of a government of national unity in 2009 at the backdrop of September 2008 Global Political Agreement marked a new era in Zimbabwean politics. This was a unity arising from political contestations that emerged at the turn into the 2000 new millennium, and had a ripple effect leading to an economic meltdown and political malaise. Key to the unity government has been an attempt to try and find answers to a problem that has been bedeviling the Zimbabwe society since time immemorial. Divisions that has dominated Zimbabwe political arena had resulted in non conducive human insecurity often leading to abuses, loss of livelihoods, de-humanising acts, corruption, and political violence. Given such background the government of national unity saw it fit to come up with an organ to deal with these issues under the framework of national healing, reconciliation and integration in Zimbabwe. It is from this framework that the book seeks to highlight on contemporary issues that impin...

Decline in performance levels not only at institutions of higher learning but even at lower level... more Decline in performance levels not only at institutions of higher learning but even at lower levels of education have been noticeable in Zimbabwe in the 21st Century. This is despite all these efforts made by the government, it has come to the attention of college and university authorities and even the parents that many students in these institutions of higher learning are failing to perform as per the expected standards. The quality of graduates produced together with the degree or diploma classes obtained by most students at the end indicates poor performance by these students in their various majors. It is within this backdrop that these researchers attempt to give possible explanation to the underperformance of students at institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe in the 21st century. Methodologically, the researchers made use of secondary sources such as published books and articles, interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires in the writing of this paper. The data...

The period following the election of the Labour Party in Britain into power has seen the relation... more The period following the election of the Labour Party in Britain into power has seen the relations between Zimbabwe and its former colonizer, Britain deteriorating. Deterioration of relations has been witnessed in the actions of government officials, civil society groups, media organizations, academics and citizens. Antagonism between the two countries arises from the conflict of values essentially the pursuit of their divergent national interests in the postcolonial world where state autonomy is a myth coupled with the fact and the legacy of colonialism is very much alive. These divergent views, which are evident, bring into focus the nexus between land reform and economic development as well as issues on governance, human rights, political stability, race relations and equity. The network of class interest, commonality of interests and patterns of co-operation has a great bearing on a country’s foreign policy. Cooperation between nations exists primarily when there is a commonalit...

In 1998, land hungry farmers in Zimbabwe went around the countryside and illegally allocated them... more In 1998, land hungry farmers in Zimbabwe went around the countryside and illegally allocated themselves portions of white-owned farmland. This development forced the government in 2000 to embark on an accelerated land re-distribution program dubbed the Fast Track Land Reform Program (FTLRP) aimed at addressing this issue of land hunger. Worth to note from the outset is the fact that the program has failed to adequately address, in situ, the issue of disaster management yet, ironically, this issue is increasingly becoming topical in the sustainable development debate. It is therefore the purpose of this paper to analyze the implications of FTLRP on disaster management in Zimbabwe. The paper largely focuses on the complex nexus between the planning of the fast track land reform program, the role of development agencies in FTLRP roII-out, the livelihoods activities undertaken by the newly-resettled farmers and the contribution of these activities to the accumulation of disaster risks in the country. Findings presented in this paper are based on a study carried out in selected areas in the Vungu Rural District (VRD) of central Zimbabwe. The paper looks at those livelihood practices among resettled farmers which are leading to the accumulation or decline in disaster risks. It goes further to highlight policies that can be put in place for people to be able to cope with future or potential crises in newly resettled areas. Various research techniques were employed for this study and these included interviews and focus group discussions with the resettled farmers. Key informants were also interviewed and these included local leaders such as village heads, the chief, and counsellors for the area. Agricultural Technical and Extension (AGRITEX) officers and the Environmental Management Agency workers were consulted as primary sources of what the government is doing on the ground to effectively manage disaster in relation to the environment.

It is an existing reality that one of the leading threats to human survival in Africa is conflict... more It is an existing reality that one of the leading threats to human survival in Africa is conflict, violence and war. The end of the decades of colonialism and Cold War had brought hope for the end of conflicts in Africa since most African countries involved in the conflict were battlegrounds as a result of the clash between colonial powers and the indigenous people and the subsequent East and West rivalry. Though certain conflicts came to an end, the situation did not change much as both inter and intra-state conflicts continued to dominate the political scenes in some African countries. The net result has been human loss and suffering exacerbating increasing threats to human security. Of great concern have been continued flow and manufacturing of weapons, both heavy and small, and the increased militarisation of communities in some countries. The logic to follow therefore is that stoppage or control in the supply of weapons through disarmament and arms control will go a long way in...

Africa is on the radar screen of global public opinion in an exceptional way. The end of the cold... more Africa is on the radar screen of global public opinion in an exceptional way. The end of the cold war did marshal in an era of anticipation and encouragement in Africa, a continent that had been adversely affected by slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism and cold war politics. The making of the African Union (AU) is an outcome of the need to redefine Africa in the framework of global environment that is primarily directed towards achievement of security of not only member states and the continent at large but also at individual level. Arising from modern understanding of security the African continent is embroiled in security challenges that the newly transformed African multilateral institution has to address. The paper seeks to examine the causes of insecurity that seem to have emerged from auspicious combination of factors that cut across all spheres of human interaction, i.e. personal, institutional, lack of unity of purpose, conflict of interest, lack of standards of measuremen...

Zimbabwe's relations with Britain at the turn into the 21st century has been characterised by... more Zimbabwe's relations with Britain at the turn into the 21st century has been characterised by antagonism. The severing of relations has emerged from contradictions over the handling of the land problem in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe government had envisaged that Britain as the former colonial power was supposed to fund the land reform process as had been agreed at the negotiations for the country's independence. The refusal by the British government to the request by Zimbabwean government to fund its land reform programme led to disagreements which ensued into a conflict that was to assume into a more or less global one. The analysis traces the origins of the deterioration of the relations between the two countries, espousing the major dimensions the conflict as well as analysing the impact of the conflict on both countries.

African Security Review, 2009

Conflicts are part and parcel of each and every society but have devastating effects on developme... more Conflicts are part and parcel of each and every society but have devastating effects on development. Efforts at reconstruction after a conflict has come to an end have characterised every post-conflict phase, with traditional justice and reconciliation being two of the modern strategies that have been put in place to re-orient societies recovering from conflict towards development. This book provides an analysis of the use of traditional justice and reconciliation in societies that were once riddled with conflict. It focuses on selected African countries against the backdrop of the high rate of conflict on the African continent as a whole.

Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, 2010

The 21st century has witnessed the intensification of relations between Zimbabwe and the East and... more The 21st century has witnessed the intensification of relations between Zimbabwe and the East and other favorable states, Russia among them. Historically under the socialist rhetoric the two countries shared a common political ideology. Zimbabwe- Russia relations dates back to the era of the liberation struggle. The Soviet Union aided Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe People's Union and later the Patriotic Front which included Mugabe's Zimbabwe National African Union. The Soviet Union aided the Patriotic Front freedom fighters with training, material and logistical support. After Zimbabwe's independence in 1981, diplomatic relations between Russia and Zimbabwe were efficiently established. These relations were interrupted in 1989 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia maintained her ties with Zimbabwe during this interruption but all the same the relations were non-eventful. The inception of the 21st century witnessed the revival intensification of relations between the...

Mediterranean Quarterly, 2006

African Journal of Political …, 2010

African Journal of Political Science and International Relations Vol. 4(8), pp. xxx-xxx, August 2... more African Journal of Political Science and International Relations Vol. 4(8), pp. xxx-xxx, August 2010 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/ajpsir ISSN 1996-0832 © 2010 Academic Journals ... The challenges facing opposition political parties in ... Percyslage Chigora1*, ...

Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 2008