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Table of Contents Background of the Study An analysis of ZANU PF’s dominance in Zimbabwean politics (1980 to 2014) Table of Contents Background of the Study ........................................................................................ 1 Theoratical Framework ......................................................................................... 13 Aim of the study ................................................................................................... 17 Objectives of the study ......................................................................................... 18 Statement of the problem ...................................................................................... 18 Significance of the study ...................................................................................... 18 Research Questions............................................................................................... 19 Research methodology ........................................................................................ 19 Nature of the study .............................................................................................. 19 Data Collection and research design .................................................................... 19 LiteratureReview .................................................................................................. 21 CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................. 31 ZANU PF as government ..................................................................................... 35 Gukurahundi. ........................................................................................................ 40 Government of national unity (1987) ................................................................. 42 Violence ............................................................................................................ 43 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 47 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................ 49 Mugabe as a chief actor towards ZANU PF‟s dominance ..................................... 49 ZANU PF and the rural majority .......................................................................... 55 ZANU PF and media ............................................................................................ 57 Dictatorship and ZANU PF dominance ................................................................ 59 ZANU PF and the political economy of Zimbabwe. ............................................. 64 ESAP .................................................................................................................... 64 The land issue ....................................................................................................... 66 The land issue and regional support (the Abuja agreement). ................................. 67 Democracy notion and ZANU PF‟s dominance. ............................................................... 69 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 70 1 Muzenda Simbarashe R112272B An analysis of ZANU PF’s dominance in Zimbabwean politics (1980 to 2014) CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................ 71 FTLRP .................................................................................................................. 72 The emergence of sanctions and ZANU PF‟s stance ............................................ 73 Operation Murambatsvina or Operation Restore Order......................................... 75 The look east policy and ZANU PF‟s dominance ................................................. 77 The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment policy. ..................................... 80 ZIMASSET .......................................................................................................... 81 The future of ZANU PF's dominance and Zimbabwean politics ..................... 82 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 85 2 Muzenda Simbarashe R112272B An analysis of ZANU PF’s dominance in Zimbabwean politics (1980 to 2014) BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY As an axiom the core business and focus of this research is to explore analytically the dominance of ZANU PF as a political party. At the same time by finding its dominance it is worth to discuss how and why ZANU PF dominates Zimbabwean politics as from 1980 to 2014 thereby highlighting the crucial pillars of power politics .In real politics it is fair to say that it‟s a long journey for the current ZANU PF political opponents to unseat it from power and the reverse it can be a long journey for ZANU PF‟s stay and service in the country‟s political power offices. This can be justified with what can be believed politically as the ability of the ruling elite to maintain and practice the belief about social dominance ideology in a particular society like Zimbabwe. The dominance of ZANU PF in the politics can be viewed as the foundations of electoral dominance. Since 1980 when the country get its political independence from the west colonial devils after defeating Smith Mugabe maintained this electoral dominance. When it comes to real politics it does not matter to look on how ZANU PF dominate this electoral system that is whether repressively or not but counts is the election result. Since politics is a game of beliefs reinforced by the number of believers it is politically fair for any political party to find survival ways since politics in this modern world is struggle for power and the survival of the fittest on the basis of oppressing the weak. Therefore since 1980 ZANU PF has managed to dominate the ballot box in Zimbabwe and this prove the practice of democratic politics by ZANIU PF as it agreed that election is the only door to democracy Without ignoring the vital issues the study is much concerned on how ZANU PF as a political party has managed to survive and harvest its support from all angles despite criticism from other political parties like the so called MDC opposition which are disturbances for ZANU PF to enjoy and set its political directions due to MDC‟s toothless and anti-majority policies which emanate from the Western interests. The study will also cover on issues of how and why the oppositions like ZUM, ZANU NDONGA, ZAPU and MDC among other ZANU PF opponents in the political race found it difficult to elect it from political offices of Zimbabwe as a sovereign nation. It is also clear that by analysing the dominance of ZANU PF as from 1980 the muzzling and disorder of ZANU PF oppositions is another step up the ladder by ZANU PF regime to dominate and remain in power up to present day. The history of Zimbabwe clarifies that opposition politics has not been constitutionally accommodated by ZANU PF administration 3 Muzenda Simbarashe R112272B An analysis of ZANU PF’s dominance in Zimbabwean politics (1980 to 2014) team since independence. Intolerance of opposition began with PF ZAPU in the 1980s. ZANU PF regime‟s opposition political parties have been treated like political enemies rather than political opponents. The continuum of this political intolerance triggered PF ZAPU to fall into an unplanned unity agreement with ZANU PF while in the process disbanding its structure as a competitive political party hence culminating to ZANU PF dominance. During the early 1980s the dominance of ZANU PF can be traced and in its founding it is clear that ever since ZANU PF‟s dominance is always cultivated by violence. On a political perspective it is a reality that in politics there are two methods used in order for one to gain political respect and dominance that is carrot method and stick method. During early findings of Zimbabwe‟s independence by ZANU PF violence was the order of the day with enough exhibits from the gukurahundi era where the Midlands and Matabeleland were victimised and accused for political indiscipline and clueless uprisings which were causing bickering and political instabilities since the two provinces have divided themselves as the main wings of the opposition. By applying violence in these provinces ZANU PF multiplied its political dominance fertility and background since people have been instilled fear and started to admit themselves to ZANU PF principles despite the fact that the beginning of the twenty first century the Matabeleland return its history as the political opponent‟s main wing up to 2014 although ZANU PF maintain its political grip as the social dominant group in the election .Matabeleland provinces are dominated by MDC and presently Tsvangirai and other MDC factions took this as an advantage to survive in the political ground taking of ZANU PF‟s political weaknesses which from the gukurahundi in which a huge number in the provinces lose their trust in ZANU PF after their relatives were massacred and as a political penetration strategy all of the oppositions sympathise with these two provinces for that bad political practice by ZANU PF pointing out that this was inhuman and lacks dignity although its politically justified as political survival way in politics. The massacre of people in these two provinces provided a better political cooperation in the country since people started to understand the dominance of ZANU PF because before
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