A Crisis of Governance – Zimbabwe

Sound Bite

This is a detailed analysis of Zimbabwe (the former Rhodesia)'s struggle to become a viable independent state, with a focus on the tumultuous events under President Robert Mugabe.

About the Book

Written by an internationally-trained African economic analyst, A Crisis of Governance is a detailed study of Zimbabwean socio-economic history and development since the nation achieved independence from Great Britain in April 1980, with a focus on recent events under President Robert Mugabe and the ZANU (Patriotic Front).

Problems range from the need for constitutional reform to political patronage and a de facto one-party democracy and the need for transparency in land reform, privatization, and economic liberalization.

It is one thing to break free of colonial tutelage; it is quite another to recover from the legacy of colonialism and implement the macroeconomic changes that would lay the basis for a self-sustaining economy. The crisis of governance in Zimbabwe (formerly known as Rhodesia) began with the occupation of Mashonaland by the British South Africa Company (BSAC) in 1890. Self-rule and the subsequent British-sponsored constitutions did not much improve the situation, and the 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence only aggravated it.Jacob Chikuhwa provides many specific examples of the steps forward — and the steps back, documented by personal interviews, news sources and others. Bibliography, Index, Footnotes.

Introduction

Power, policy, and the peril of a nation — Zimbabwe’s turbulent path through corruption, reform, and economic empowerment

Jacob W. Chikuhwa’s A Crisis of Governance: Zimbabwe is a penetrating analysis of the political and economic turmoil that has gripped Zimbabwe since independence, with a focus on the leadership of Robert Mugabe and the systemic corruption, lawlessness, and mismanagement that have undermined the nation’s potential. This political and economic history of Zimbabwe post-1980 covers governance, human rights, corruption, and socio-economic policies.

Blending socio-economic history with development studies, Chikuhwa traces Zimbabwe’s trajectory from hopeful liberation to entrenched crisis. He examines the unrealistic goals and flawed implementation of Economic Structural Adjustment Programs (ESAP), revealing how both the government and international institutions failed to account for the short-term hardships caused by liberalization. His discussion of privatization stresses the need for safeguarding strategic enterprises while encouraging technological partnerships and citizen ownership, offering a nuanced alternative to wholesale asset sales.

The book scrutinizes policies like land reform, economic liberalization, and parastatal privatization, assessing their impact on industry, exports, and investment. It highlights how political patronage and centralized allocation of projects discourage investors, while commodity shortages and disasters exacerbate instability. Chikuhwa’s narrative situates these developments within Zimbabwe’s broader socio-economic history, emphasizing the interplay between natural resources, governance, and social structures.

What makes this work relevant today is its detailed account of how governance failures translate into economic collapse — a cautionary tale for other nations, especially those navigating post-colonial transitions. Chikuhwa’s insistence on interdisciplinary analysis underscores the importance of integrating historical, political, and economic perspectives to craft sustainable policies. His critique is grounded in the conviction that development must be people-centered, focusing on how citizens produce and reproduce their daily lives within households, communities, and national frameworks.

In an era when corruption, mismanagement, and political repression threaten democracies worldwide, A Crisis of Governance serves as both a case study and a warning. It offers valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and development practitioners seeking to understand — and address — the complex causes of national decline.

Table content

PART I. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTCHAPTER 1. SOCIO-POLITICAL SYSTEMSPre-Historic Social StructuresPre-Colonial Political SystemsColonial Incursions and the Early ConstitutionsThe Chimurenga WarThe 1923 ConstitutionThe 1961 ConstitutionThe Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI)The 1965 ConstitutionThe 1969 ConstitutionCHAPTER 2. THE NEED FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGESettlement TalksThe 1979 ConstitutionThe Lusaka Accord and the Lancaster House ConstitutionCountless Amendments to the Lancaster House ConstitutionRetention of Colonial LawsCultural Expression and RepressionSpecial Legislation and Rights InfringementsThe Clamor for a Homegrown ConstitutionMugabe's Constitutional CommissionThe Commission's Draft versus the Popular WillRamming It ThroughCHAPTER 3. THE FOLLY IN A DE FACTO ONE-PARTY DEMOCRACYHarassment of the OppositionGrowing DiscontentCracks within the Ruling PartyThe Roots of CorruptionOne-party political systemsAllocation of Resources to the Less-privilegedAid ProgramsCentralized Allocation of Assets and ProjectsCommodity Shortages and National DisastersPART II. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENTCHAPTER 4. THE INDIGENIZATION POLICYPrerequisites for Indigenous InvestmentThe Economic Empowerment LobbyPolitical PatronageCHAPTER 5. ECONOMIC REFORMSThe Land-Reform ProgramEconomic LiberalizationParastatal PrivatizationIndustry and Export PromotionWhat Lies AheadAPPENDIX I. THE PRESIDENCY AND MINISTERS' SALARIESAPPENDIX II. GOVERNMENT COMPOSITIONBIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX