percyslage chigora - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by percyslage chigora
The study seeks to interrogate the practicality of transitional justice and reconciliation in Zim... more The study seeks to interrogate the practicality of transitional justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe. The study seeks to answer the questions where, when and how should reconciliation take place in Zimbabwe. The research will also interrogate historical events in Zimbabwe where the concept of reconciliation should have been applied. To that effect ,the where question seeks to identify areas of economic subjugation, political persecution and other forms of human rights abuse where the policy of reconciliation should be applied. To the question when, the researchers will revisit historical events and not confine themselves to prescribed times reconciliation is recommended to cover. To the question how, the researchers will use desktop review in which there will be extensive use of literature from different scholars who have contributed to the debate on reconciliation. Interviews with politicians, victims of political and electoral violence, war veterans, chiefs, church leaders, civil society officials and the general public were conducted. This was aimed at gathering wider views and perceptions concerning the debate on justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe. Information gathered from these informants was valuable in the writing of this paper. The sensitivity of the topic under discussion led some of our informants to request anonymity in the writing of the paper. Guided by research ethics, the researchers have granted anonymity to those informants who requested it.
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 ameliorating the situation enhancing the achievement of human security. It is the purpose of this paper to explore the feasibility of arms control and disarmament in achieving human security in Africa. The paper will expose the major problems in effective achievement of arms control and disarmament and establishing ways of circumventing these problems with an overall objective of achieving human security in Africa.
Human Rights in Colonial, 20th and 21st Centuries Zimbabwe and the West’s Foreign Policies
Journal of public administration and development alternatives, Dec 1, 2021
Challenges Associated with Covid-19 Pandemic, Peace and Security in Africa
Journal of public administration and development alternatives, Dec 1, 2021
Rebels and robbers : Violence in post-colonial Angola, Assis Malaquias : book review
African Security Review, Jun 1, 2009
tion into IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. The lack of order and security within these c... more tion into IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. The lack of order and security within these camps has led both to oppression and violence at the hands of the military and to attacks from the rebels; in these circumstances, even humanitarian assistance becomes intertwined with military oppression. This chapter highlights the precarious nature of daily life as it is negotiated between the demands of the military and the threats of the LRA. The fifth chapter looks at the function of rumors, both helpful and destructive, for the population. Chapter 6 looks at how the Acholi cultural orientation and spiritual beliefs function to help the people develop meaning out of everyday experiences—and at the threat that such culture and spirituality pose to state actors vying for power. The book concludes by returning to the overarching issue of how one constructs meaning in war-torn areas. Finnstrom describes the role of reconciliation in addressing the personal issues of fear, sorrow, and the reestablishing of relationships. In doing so he reminds the reader that people are active agents in making meaning of their lived realities even in the midst of bad surroundings.
Traditional justice and reconciliation after violent conflict : Learning from African experience, Luc Huyse & Mark Salter (Eds.) : book review
African Security Review, Mar 1, 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.
An analysis of the implications of the Fast Track Land Reform Program on climate change and disaster management in Zimbabwe: a case of Chegutu District
Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 2010
DergiPark (Istanbul University), Aug 1, 2011
The warrant holds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Bashir is criminally responsi... more The warrant holds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Bashir is criminally responsible for five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes, referring to alleged attacks by Sudanese security forces and pro-government militia in the Darfur region of Sudan during the government's seven year counter insurgency campaign. This ability to indict a head of state in office raised debates and animosity between the court and African leaders as well as Arab leaders after it indicted Hassan Omar Al-Bashir, the Sudanese head of state. The paper seeks to analyse the extent to which the Sudanese conflict gave rise to situation that constitute war crimes and examine the extent to which the laws have been applied worldwide. In essence, the paper makes an exposition about the law's applicability in the contemporary world. The paper espouse that the Sudanese sets as a test case were a sitting head of state could be brought before the ICC.
The Origins of the Zimbabwean Crisis
The situation obtaining in Zimbabwe at the turn into the 21st Century can be described best as a ... more The situation obtaining in Zimbabwe at the turn into the 21st Century can be described best as a crisis situation. This was characterised by economic, political and socio-cultural turmoil which had a far reaching impact not only to the society in Zimbabwe but also to the international community. The book traces the origins of the crisis arguing that factors that contributed to the crisis situation are rather complex.
Real political empowerment or political Gimmick? An experience of women with guns under ZANU PF during the liberation struggle 1972-1980
African Journal of History and Culture, Mar 31, 2011
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic arrived at a moment when prospects for economic development, ... more The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic arrived at a moment when prospects for economic development, industrial development, educational transformation and social cohesion for many African countries were promising. 1 At the beginning of 2020, Africa was on track to continue its economic expansion, with growth projected to rise from 2.9 per cent in 2019 to 3.2 per cent in the year 2020, and 3.5 per cent in 2021. 2 Hitherto Covid-19, important gains were being registered in poverty reduction, social security provision and universal access to health care across the African continent. 3 At its 910 th meeting on February 13, 2020, the African Union Peace and Security Council acknowledged that the Covid-19 outbreak was a public health emergency predicted then to cause a serious threat to multi-sectorial development in the continent. 4 Covid-19 was a litmus test for African countries to assess their capacity to provide social security and insurance to their populations in times of abrupt global pandemics. 5 This chapter makes use of secondary sources to critically analyse the implications of Covid-19 on social security provision in the SADC region, drawing experience from Zimbabwe and South Africa. The research focuses on Zimbabwe and South Africa because these countries share some contrasting experiences on social security prioritisation a comparative analysis will reveal some lessons for and from both country contexts. The analysis in this paper is buttressed by reference to the provisions of SADC social security protocols which are the Code on Social Security in the SADC region and the SADC Charter on Fundamental Social Rights. The SADC *
Rabah Arezki, Thorvaldur Gylfason, and Amadou Sy (Eds.). 2011. beyond the Curse: Policies to Harness the Power of Natural Resources
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...
Youth Unemployment in Urban Zimbabwe in the 21st Century: Analysing the Drivers, Impacts and Cultural Implications
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.
Land Compensation and Land Conflict Resolution in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Prospects for the Second Republic’s Relations with the West
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...
An analysis of the effects of civil war and prospects for development in Mozambique: the case of Frelimo-Renamo in Chokwe District
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...
Politics in Zimbabwe in the 21st Century
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...
Underperformance of students at institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe in the 21st century: possible explanations
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...
The study seeks to interrogate the practicality of transitional justice and reconciliation in Zim... more The study seeks to interrogate the practicality of transitional justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe. The study seeks to answer the questions where, when and how should reconciliation take place in Zimbabwe. The research will also interrogate historical events in Zimbabwe where the concept of reconciliation should have been applied. To that effect ,the where question seeks to identify areas of economic subjugation, political persecution and other forms of human rights abuse where the policy of reconciliation should be applied. To the question when, the researchers will revisit historical events and not confine themselves to prescribed times reconciliation is recommended to cover. To the question how, the researchers will use desktop review in which there will be extensive use of literature from different scholars who have contributed to the debate on reconciliation. Interviews with politicians, victims of political and electoral violence, war veterans, chiefs, church leaders, civil society officials and the general public were conducted. This was aimed at gathering wider views and perceptions concerning the debate on justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe. Information gathered from these informants was valuable in the writing of this paper. The sensitivity of the topic under discussion led some of our informants to request anonymity in the writing of the paper. Guided by research ethics, the researchers have granted anonymity to those informants who requested it.
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 ameliorating the situation enhancing the achievement of human security. It is the purpose of this paper to explore the feasibility of arms control and disarmament in achieving human security in Africa. The paper will expose the major problems in effective achievement of arms control and disarmament and establishing ways of circumventing these problems with an overall objective of achieving human security in Africa.
Human Rights in Colonial, 20th and 21st Centuries Zimbabwe and the West’s Foreign Policies
Journal of public administration and development alternatives, Dec 1, 2021
Challenges Associated with Covid-19 Pandemic, Peace and Security in Africa
Journal of public administration and development alternatives, Dec 1, 2021
Rebels and robbers : Violence in post-colonial Angola, Assis Malaquias : book review
African Security Review, Jun 1, 2009
tion into IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. The lack of order and security within these c... more tion into IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. The lack of order and security within these camps has led both to oppression and violence at the hands of the military and to attacks from the rebels; in these circumstances, even humanitarian assistance becomes intertwined with military oppression. This chapter highlights the precarious nature of daily life as it is negotiated between the demands of the military and the threats of the LRA. The fifth chapter looks at the function of rumors, both helpful and destructive, for the population. Chapter 6 looks at how the Acholi cultural orientation and spiritual beliefs function to help the people develop meaning out of everyday experiences—and at the threat that such culture and spirituality pose to state actors vying for power. The book concludes by returning to the overarching issue of how one constructs meaning in war-torn areas. Finnstrom describes the role of reconciliation in addressing the personal issues of fear, sorrow, and the reestablishing of relationships. In doing so he reminds the reader that people are active agents in making meaning of their lived realities even in the midst of bad surroundings.
Traditional justice and reconciliation after violent conflict : Learning from African experience, Luc Huyse & Mark Salter (Eds.) : book review
African Security Review, Mar 1, 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.
An analysis of the implications of the Fast Track Land Reform Program on climate change and disaster management in Zimbabwe: a case of Chegutu District
Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 2010
DergiPark (Istanbul University), Aug 1, 2011
The warrant holds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Bashir is criminally responsi... more The warrant holds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Bashir is criminally responsible for five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes, referring to alleged attacks by Sudanese security forces and pro-government militia in the Darfur region of Sudan during the government's seven year counter insurgency campaign. This ability to indict a head of state in office raised debates and animosity between the court and African leaders as well as Arab leaders after it indicted Hassan Omar Al-Bashir, the Sudanese head of state. The paper seeks to analyse the extent to which the Sudanese conflict gave rise to situation that constitute war crimes and examine the extent to which the laws have been applied worldwide. In essence, the paper makes an exposition about the law's applicability in the contemporary world. The paper espouse that the Sudanese sets as a test case were a sitting head of state could be brought before the ICC.
The Origins of the Zimbabwean Crisis
The situation obtaining in Zimbabwe at the turn into the 21st Century can be described best as a ... more The situation obtaining in Zimbabwe at the turn into the 21st Century can be described best as a crisis situation. This was characterised by economic, political and socio-cultural turmoil which had a far reaching impact not only to the society in Zimbabwe but also to the international community. The book traces the origins of the crisis arguing that factors that contributed to the crisis situation are rather complex.
Real political empowerment or political Gimmick? An experience of women with guns under ZANU PF during the liberation struggle 1972-1980
African Journal of History and Culture, Mar 31, 2011
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic arrived at a moment when prospects for economic development, ... more The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic arrived at a moment when prospects for economic development, industrial development, educational transformation and social cohesion for many African countries were promising. 1 At the beginning of 2020, Africa was on track to continue its economic expansion, with growth projected to rise from 2.9 per cent in 2019 to 3.2 per cent in the year 2020, and 3.5 per cent in 2021. 2 Hitherto Covid-19, important gains were being registered in poverty reduction, social security provision and universal access to health care across the African continent. 3 At its 910 th meeting on February 13, 2020, the African Union Peace and Security Council acknowledged that the Covid-19 outbreak was a public health emergency predicted then to cause a serious threat to multi-sectorial development in the continent. 4 Covid-19 was a litmus test for African countries to assess their capacity to provide social security and insurance to their populations in times of abrupt global pandemics. 5 This chapter makes use of secondary sources to critically analyse the implications of Covid-19 on social security provision in the SADC region, drawing experience from Zimbabwe and South Africa. The research focuses on Zimbabwe and South Africa because these countries share some contrasting experiences on social security prioritisation a comparative analysis will reveal some lessons for and from both country contexts. The analysis in this paper is buttressed by reference to the provisions of SADC social security protocols which are the Code on Social Security in the SADC region and the SADC Charter on Fundamental Social Rights. The SADC *
Rabah Arezki, Thorvaldur Gylfason, and Amadou Sy (Eds.). 2011. beyond the Curse: Policies to Harness the Power of Natural Resources
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...
Youth Unemployment in Urban Zimbabwe in the 21st Century: Analysing the Drivers, Impacts and Cultural Implications
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.
Land Compensation and Land Conflict Resolution in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Prospects for the Second Republic’s Relations with the West
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...
An analysis of the effects of civil war and prospects for development in Mozambique: the case of Frelimo-Renamo in Chokwe District
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...
Politics in Zimbabwe in the 21st Century
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...
Underperformance of students at institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe in the 21st century: possible explanations
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...