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SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES TABOO SYSTEMS AS A CONFLICT RESTRAINT IN THE POLITICAL FEUD IN ZIMBABWE. AN EXPLORATION OF MAZOWE AND SHAMVA DISTRICTS, POST INDEPENDENCE BY OBEDIAH DODO PHD6831008 SUPERVISORS: PROFESSOR SICHALWE KASANDA PROFESSOR EVERISTO NSENDULUKA Submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Governance and Conflict Resolution at the University of Lusaka, Zambia. 2016 DECLARATION I do hereby declare that the thesis being submitted to the University of Lusaka, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Governance and Conflict Resolution; Taboo systems as a conflict restraint in the political feud in Zimbabwe: An exploration of Mazowe and Shamva districts post-independence, has not been previously submitted by me for a degree at this or any other university; that it is my original work, and that all the material contained herein has been duly acknowledged. Signed on this ……………… day of ………………….. at the University of Lusaka. Obediah Dodo: ……………………… ii RELEASE FORM NAME OF AUTHOR : Obediah Dodo REG NUMBER : PhD6831008 SUPERVISORS : Professor Sichalwe Kasanda Professor Everisto Nsenduluka THESIS : Taboo Systems as a Conflict Restraint in the Political Feud in Zimbabwe. An Exploration of Mazowe and Shamva Districts, Post-Independence. PROGRAM : Doctor of Philosophy in Governance and Conflict Resolution YEAR GRANTED : 2016 SIGNED : ……………………………………….. Permission is hereby granted to the University of Lusaka Library to produce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. The author does not withhold other publication rights and the thesis nor may extensive extracts from it be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author‘s written permission. CANDIDATE’S SIGNATURE: …………………………. Date…………………… PERMANENT ADDRESS: 935 Unit F Seke, Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR’S SIGNATURE: ……………… Date ……………… CO-SUPERVISOR’S SIGNATURE: ……………………………. Date ……………… iii COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, be lent, sold, hired-out or otherwise circulated without express written consent of the author or the University. © Obediah Dodo iv DEDICATION To Gloria, Takudzwa, Paidaishe, Arnold, Nokutenda and Paidamoyo. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to acknowledge invaluable help that I have received from various people in different sectors and spheres of my life. First and foremost, special gratitude goes to my supervisors; Professor Sichalwe Kasanda and Professor Everisto Nsenduluka for their polished expert and academic guidance. I also need to recognise the help that I got from all the oral defence panellists at the University of Lusaka especially Dr Christine Mushibwe and Dr Ronald Kaulule. I also wish to pay tribute to my fellow lecturers at Bindura University especially from the Departments of Peace and Governance and Social Work and the Faculty Dean Prof Pfukwa for the support and encouragement. Dr Ibbo Mandaza has always supported in various forms. Finally, I acknowledge all the support that I received from my family and especially my children who ran around as home assistants; Takudzwa, Paidaishe and Paidamoyo. vi ABSTRACT Following a realisation that during each plebiscite in Zimbabwe, scores of people are injured, killed and displaced due to the intensity of political violence, this research was carried out to focus on the possible role of traditional taboos in restraining the behaviours of the conflict perpetrators. This is against the fact that traditionally, taboos were used as a policing mechanism in respective communities. However, due to the advent of globalisation, modernity and other influences, some of these taboos seem to have been washed to the periphery and lost relevance. The study carried out in Mazowe and Shamva districts, was primarily exploratory being applied within the qualitative paradigm. The study, employing formal interviews, focus group discussions and archival material drew a total sample of 135 participants from across the divide through snowball and emergent sampling. The analysis and interpretation of data was achieved through the use of NVIVO software and Content Analysis method, which provided for the analysis of written and audio material. To ensure near objectivity and total acceptability of the results, the research instituted some measures like; depth in research, objective interpretation of the world by all concerned stakeholders, appropriate sampling mode, method triangulation, data triangulation, timing and duration of the study. The study found out that while the taboo concept was an old-fashioned mechanism of restraining conflicts in society, it still had its place for as long as there were deliberate efforts towards sustaining its importance. It was also established that indeed, there were some volatile situations that were addressed by the fear of the effects of the taboos. Some conflicts were also averted by the fears created by some taboos that have since been swallowed by other „cultures‟ and religions. To ensure that the preventative role is sustained, the study has also recommended that there be some deliberate inculcation of the belief system in the young ones in society over a period through all the socialisation systems like schools, churches and the family. The retention of the practice is purely to regulate childrens behaviours. vii ACRONYMS DAPP – Development Aid from People to People FGD – Focus Group Discussion JMC – Johane Masowe Chishanu JMCM - Johane Masowe Chishanu Madzimbabwe JMCNT - Johane Masowe Chishanu Nguo Tsvuku MDC – Movement for Democratic Change MDC-T- Movement for Democratic Change- Tsvangirai MDG – Millennium Development Goals NCA – National Constitutional Assembly NGO – Non-Governmental Organisation PRSP - Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper RENAMO – Mozambique National Resistance Movement SADC- Southern Africa Development Community ZANU PF – Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front ZRP - Zimbabwe Republic Police ZIMSTATS- Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency viii DEFINITION OF TERMS While the discussion sounds familiar to many, to some, it is a completely alien arena with new terms and concepts which probably need to be defined and clearly elucidated. This explanation has to be strictly contextual to the study in question so that relevance is maintained throughout. Taboo- this is a traditional regulatory and system design mechanism that is culturally embedded in a community primarily meant to set apart a person, an object, or a place as sacred to achieve conservation, respect and continuity. In the African society, taboos are created by particular societies to fit specific situations and times. It is no wonder why a taboo in one area may not be in another. In this study, taboos are treated as socially-embedded pronouncements by elders as a way of instilling order in society over everything; natural resource, people, discipline, and ideology. In the absence of a clearly written down law, communities only resorted to taboos which did not require a third person to police or intervene; there is self-regulation as people believed that the unseen ‗gods‘ and spirits will be seeing and hearing from the atmosphere. Conflict- A conflict is an activity that has traditionally been regarded as retrogressive, destructive and unnecessary in society though there are some quarters which view it as catalysts for development. In this study, conflict is considered as an activity whereby two or more individuals have clashed and have developed some degree of hostility against each other. However, precisely, conflict refers to misunderstandings particularly over land, ideology and ethnicity in the areas under study. It takes any number to be involved in a conflict from personal, group, inter-group and inter-personal. ix Traditional- In this research traditional is defined as the systems that are embedded in the people of the area called indigenous. It will be realised in the study that the term is used differently in different situations. Traditional leadership are those political, social and religious structures that are embedded in the pre-colonial period and are culture sensitive. However, common to all its use is the fact that it is culture-born, local systems oriented and people-friendly. Conflict restraint- This is a measure or system of deterring or pre-empting a potential misunderstanding between parties. Conflict restraint may be achieved in a variety of ways; economic, social or legal and should be long-term oriented so that the same conflict does not recur again. A conflict restraint is a system on the ground which is supposed to regulate and control conflicts in society. These systems do not necessarily require the physical intervention of other beings; rather, there is self-regulation due to the level of belief in the minds of the society. People involved in unwanted acts are deterred by a mere feeling that something unusual happens at the instigation of the unseen spirits moving around the atmosphere. In this study, ‗restraint‘ will be interchanged with ‗prevention‘. Peace-building -are long-term efforts at reconciliation, capacity building and societal transformation that take place after fierce conflict has reduced or ceased. These peace- building efforts may be political, economic, social and military and primarily designed to reinforce political settlements,