Overview
President Robert Mugabe and his main rival agreed to divide control of the police and army and strike a delicate balance in Zimbabwe’s Cabinet — but their power-sharing deal will be under enormous pressure from long-simmering differences and economic collapse. Some members of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party have already complained that the compromise didn’t do enough to sideline Mugabe. Western nations poised to send in sorely needed aid and investment also are wary of the man accused of holding onto power through violence and fraud and ruining the economy of what had been southern Africa’s breadbasket.
Key Terms and Figures
Robert Mugabe — “President” of Zimbabwe since 1980 and head of ZANU-PF: Was a prominent leader in the revolt that pushed the British out of Zimbabwe. During his tenure he has repeatedly used his presidential prerogative to limit other branches of government and rig elections. Has used national hatred of British rule as a defining message. Often refers to the west as imperialist or “born again colonialist”. Many argue that he has single handedly ruined Zimbabwe’s economy.
Zanu – PF – or Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front: Has ruled Zimbabwe since independence and has always been under the leadership of Robert Mugabe. Tends to be built around socialist ideology, and has held a majority in parliament since 1980—that was until March of this year.
MDC – or Movement for Democratic Change: Founded in 1999 it is the largest Opposition party in Zimbabwe. Its main branch has always been under the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai. In 2005 the party split when Tsvangirai said the MDC would boycott all elections until they were free and fair. This split has continued into 2008 with Arthur Mutambara – leader of the other half of the MDC – supporting the presidential candidacy of Simba Makoni. Has repeatedly been attacked, searched and harassed by ZANU-PF members.
Morgan Tsvangirai: Leader and founder of the MDC. Has been repeatedly been arrested under claims of disturbing the peace or inciting violence. His arrests and mistreatment, as well as his vocal criticism of Zimbabwean democracy, has been one of the leading factors drawing attention to the 2008 elections.
Major Issues
Structure of the New Government: Under the deal, Mugabe will remain president, while Tsvangirai will become prime minister. The agreement also provides for Zanu-PF to hold 15 cabinet seats. Tsvangirai’s MDC will get 13 cabinet posts, and a breakaway faction of the MDC, led by Arthur Mutambara, will be handed three positions, giving the combined opposition a narrow majority. Mugabe will chair the cabinet, which decides on government policy. Tsvangirai will chair a council of ministers, which implements policy. The president also keeps control of the military, while the MDC wants to direct the police. Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mugabe in the March elections but not enough for outright victory. He pulled out of a run-off in June, accusing Zanu-PF militia and the army of organizing attacks on its supporters which left some 200 people dead.
Land reform: One of the major issues over the decade has been land reform. Even after independence the majority of the arable land in Zimbabwe was held by a small group of white landowners. However, in 2000 Mugabe allowed his supporters to seize this land without payment of any sort. This redistribution has led to many farms being mismanaged and drastic food shortages throughout the nations. This was exacerbated in 2005 with the military forcibly evacuated squatters throughout the nation, creating a large displaced class of individuals, and drastically lowering the agricultural output of the nation. The starvation and economic devastation caused by these moves are a major motivating factor for the anti ZANU momentum in Zimbabwe.
Inflation: Aside from starvation, the other major issue in Zimbabwe has been economic collapse, inflation has recently reach 100,000%. Generally currency is worthless within a day or two of receiving it. This inflation has destroyed local economies, and keeps all foreign investment out. This has been another major voting issue, as the command economics of ZANU-PF are largely blamed for this collapse.
Relinquishment of Cabinet Power: Tsvangirai is appealing to African leaders to intervene in the deadlock over the power-sharing agreement. He says Mugabe has repeated demands for his party to hold all the top Cabinet posts in a unity government — including finance, defense, foreign affairs and home affairs. Mugabe returned from the U.N. on Monday and promised a coalition government would be named this week.
International Response: Western nations, who have shunned Mugabe’s government and whose aid and investment are sorely needed, have reacted cautiously to the coalition agreement. Millions of dollars in aid are expected to flow in if Mugabe actually shares power. European Union foreign ministers have welcomed the power-sharing deal but have said that Mugabe must prove he is willing to restore democratic rule before EU sanctions can be lifted. While critics have complained about Zimbabwe’s human rights record, Mugabe said the African Union and southern African leaders have not. When asked whether he would allow Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to come in, he replied: “Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Let them keep out.”
Sample Questions
Is Mugabe capable of sharing power with Tsvangirai?
Will Mugabe allow rival parties to gain control of important branches of government?
Will a unity government in Zimbabwe lead to economic stability in the country?
Should the international community be skeptical of Mugabe’s power sharing agreement?
Will a reformed government serve to better human rights in Zimbabwe?