lOMoAR cPSD| 18998289
, lOMoAR cPSD| 18998289
Question Answered: Question 2 and Question 3
Module code: APC3701
Module: The Politics of Southern Africa
Exam Date:14 May 2024
Question 2
Critically examine the ways in which Zimbambwe’s one-party system obstruct
democracy.
1. Democratization in Zimbabwe.
Table of content
1.Introduction……………………………………………………….page 1
2. Body………………………………………………………………page 2
Critically examine the ways in which Zimbambwe’s one-party system obstruct
democracy
1. Democratization in Zimbabwe.
2. Opposition
3. The opposition movement within Zimbabwe
3. Conclusion……………………………………………………. page 3
, lOMoAR cPSD| 18998289
4.Referencing……………………………………………………..page 4 Introduction
Zimbabwe is a landlock nation in Southern Africa that shares borders Zambia, South
Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. Mountains in the east and a high plateau make
up much of Zimbabwe’s terrain. The government is a parliamentary democracy, with
the presidents serving as the head of the state private freedom but there is still a lot
of government control over the economy. Zimbambwe belongs to the Southern
African development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for the Eastern
and Southern Africa.
A one-party system, where a single political party has complete control and
dominance over the governance over the government and political landscape, can
significantly obstruct democracy in several ways. In the case of Zimbambwe, the
ruling party, ZANU-PF, has maintained a tight grip on power since independence in
1980.
Democratization in Zimbabwe.
While Africa has been aware of democracy implementation of it did not begin until the
1960’s and 1970’s, and some cases not until the 1990’s. it was at this crucial juncture
that Africans began to throw off their colonial masters and regain ownership over their
own governance. Each new liberated African country had to decide under what form
of government they wished to proceed. “of the thirty-six countries which gained
independence in Africa, between 1956 and 1970, thirty-three” opted against
democracy. Colonialization had given democracy a bad name throughout the
, lOMoAR cPSD| 18998289
continent, yet some African nations wre willing to move forward under the auspices of
democracy. A majority of African posed problems to those African countries
attempting to shore up their political system. Africa was a pawn In the great chess
game between the united states (democracy) and the Soviet Union(communication)
Africa became an “instrument of control and manipulation” by these two great
superpowers attempting to flex their political muscles. Both nations felt little need to
monitor where their financial and military support was going as long as they had a
tally mark in their favor, they had tally mark in their favor, they were content. For the
African countries, the repercussion was astounding. “Both civil and political right, the
core foundation of democracy, were limited and constrained by the dominant global
ideologies” of the united state and the soviet-union.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the civil cold war democracy was
given the opportunity to flourish on its own, and it began to take root in Africa. More
than a dozen African state threw off the shackles of their autocratic rules or one-party
system in the post-cold war era. Multiparty system and overall political and social
activisim began to spring up across the continent. Social and political awareness
grew as more and more individuals recognized that their success and prosperity lay
in the hands of their leaders. New opportunities arose for Africa to grasp at the
prospect for democracy. Yet for Africa democracy has become a “mixed bag of
accomplishment, challenges, and largely unmet aspiration”.
In academic and political circles this resurgence of democracy in Africa has been
known as the third wave of democracy. Each time democracy has sprung around the
world it takes on somewhat of a new flavor. Democracy is a complex set of processes
and policies which must be tailored and fitted to a society. It has a form of
, lOMoAR cPSD| 18998289
Question Answered: Question 2 and Question 3
Module code: APC3701
Module: The Politics of Southern Africa
Exam Date:14 May 2024
Question 2
Critically examine the ways in which Zimbambwe’s one-party system obstruct
democracy.
1. Democratization in Zimbabwe.
Table of content
1.Introduction……………………………………………………….page 1
2. Body………………………………………………………………page 2
Critically examine the ways in which Zimbambwe’s one-party system obstruct
democracy
1. Democratization in Zimbabwe.
2. Opposition
3. The opposition movement within Zimbabwe
3. Conclusion……………………………………………………. page 3
, lOMoAR cPSD| 18998289
4.Referencing……………………………………………………..page 4 Introduction
Zimbabwe is a landlock nation in Southern Africa that shares borders Zambia, South
Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. Mountains in the east and a high plateau make
up much of Zimbabwe’s terrain. The government is a parliamentary democracy, with
the presidents serving as the head of the state private freedom but there is still a lot
of government control over the economy. Zimbambwe belongs to the Southern
African development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for the Eastern
and Southern Africa.
A one-party system, where a single political party has complete control and
dominance over the governance over the government and political landscape, can
significantly obstruct democracy in several ways. In the case of Zimbambwe, the
ruling party, ZANU-PF, has maintained a tight grip on power since independence in
1980.
Democratization in Zimbabwe.
While Africa has been aware of democracy implementation of it did not begin until the
1960’s and 1970’s, and some cases not until the 1990’s. it was at this crucial juncture
that Africans began to throw off their colonial masters and regain ownership over their
own governance. Each new liberated African country had to decide under what form
of government they wished to proceed. “of the thirty-six countries which gained
independence in Africa, between 1956 and 1970, thirty-three” opted against
democracy. Colonialization had given democracy a bad name throughout the
, lOMoAR cPSD| 18998289
continent, yet some African nations wre willing to move forward under the auspices of
democracy. A majority of African posed problems to those African countries
attempting to shore up their political system. Africa was a pawn In the great chess
game between the united states (democracy) and the Soviet Union(communication)
Africa became an “instrument of control and manipulation” by these two great
superpowers attempting to flex their political muscles. Both nations felt little need to
monitor where their financial and military support was going as long as they had a
tally mark in their favor, they had tally mark in their favor, they were content. For the
African countries, the repercussion was astounding. “Both civil and political right, the
core foundation of democracy, were limited and constrained by the dominant global
ideologies” of the united state and the soviet-union.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the civil cold war democracy was
given the opportunity to flourish on its own, and it began to take root in Africa. More
than a dozen African state threw off the shackles of their autocratic rules or one-party
system in the post-cold war era. Multiparty system and overall political and social
activisim began to spring up across the continent. Social and political awareness
grew as more and more individuals recognized that their success and prosperity lay
in the hands of their leaders. New opportunities arose for Africa to grasp at the
prospect for democracy. Yet for Africa democracy has become a “mixed bag of
accomplishment, challenges, and largely unmet aspiration”.
In academic and political circles this resurgence of democracy in Africa has been
known as the third wave of democracy. Each time democracy has sprung around the
world it takes on somewhat of a new flavor. Democracy is a complex set of processes
and policies which must be tailored and fitted to a society. It has a form of
