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ID: 168241

Chinese Engagement of Zimbabwe and the Limits of Elite Agency / Chipaike, Ronald

Chipaike, Ronald	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

This article contends that Zimbabwe’s agency in its engagement with China has been limited and at best circumscribed. This owes to factors such as indifference by state authorities to cooperation with civil society actors in negotiating with Chinese actors, the desperation of the The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front regime in the face of isolation by erstwhile partners as well as the opacity and secrecy that characterizes significant areas of the Zimbabwe–China relationship. The pressing need for critical institutions such as parliament to play independent oversight roles as well as the creation of space for civil society watchdog functions are highlighted as key enablers if Zimbabwean agency is to generate positive gains from the country’s engagement with China.

Key Words

Africa ; China ; Zimbabwe ; Agency ; MDC ; ZANU PF

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ID: 193042

Violence, Victimhood and Retaliation: the 2008 Elections and the Cyclic Nature of Political Violence in Norton, Zimbabwe / Chitofiri, Kudakwashe; Nkomo, Lotti

Chitofiri, Kudakwashe	Journal Article
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This article is an empirical examination of ‘victimhood’ in the context of the widespread, deadly and destructive electoral violence that affected Zimbabwe in 2008. It contends that an examination of the behaviour of victims of state-sponsored political violence enhances our comprehension of ‘victimhood’ as a factor in the perpetuation of political violence. The victims were largely ignored by the justice system, the political leadership and the community, all of whom were under the coercive spell of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). The trivialisation of their situation, and the absence of legitimate avenues for redress, forced many victims to seek direct revenge. The article traces how this fomented and reproduced the already violent political atmosphere in Norton town during the 2008 election period. It relies on interviews with opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) victims of violence in Norton to consider how they attempted to make sense of their pain by claiming victimhood and exacting physical revenge against their tormentors.

Key Words

Violence ; Politics ; Zimbabwe ; Elections ; Justice ; Retaliation ;
MDC ; Victimhood ; ZANU PF

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