Harare, zimbabweapril 30, 2010 last evening in harare, the leaders of the womens wings of the three main political parties signed a resolution to work across their political divides to accelerate implementation of the global political agreement gpa and build a common agenda for womens empowerment. Bereft of any political legitimacy and forced to go into negotiations that resulted in the global political agreement gpa signed in september 2008, zanupf factions appeared to have been mollified by the rejection of the voters and the intervention of the sadc and the au, forcing the. A critique of the 2008 government of national unity and. Consequentially, the inclination of this article is to follow arendt lijpharts consociationalism powersharing strategy, although a disclaimer is made to the effect that there are other complex. Four years have lapsed since the official signing of the sadc mediated global political. The 20082009 zimbabwean political negotiations between the opposition movement for democratic change led by morgan tsvangirai, its small splinter group, the movement for democratic change mutambara led by arthur mutambara, and the ruling zimbabwe african national union patriotic front led by robert mugabe were intended to negotiate an end to. On the 15th of september 2008, zimbabwe entered into a historic global political agreement gpa which gave birth to the government of national unity gnu to end political and economic impasse in the country as well as a foundation towards a new constitutional dispensation, founded on the protection of human rights. In december 2007 the party endorsed mugabe as its presidential candidate in the 2008 elections. The first singlevolume history of zimbabwe with detailed coverage from precolonial times to the present, this book examines zimbabwes precolonial, colonial and postcolonial social, economic and political history and relates historical factors and. Appraisal of the zimbabwe global political agreement gpa. A violent crackdown was stepped up against the opposition and the voters who had the temerity to support it amnesty international 2002. The setting up of the zhrc is commendable milestone for zimbabwe in its bid to address human rights violations and is positive indication of the will by government to fulfill its duty to promote and protect human rights.
In this particular case, the gpa is regarded as seeking to settle political disputes among the three political parties that are currently represented in the zimbabwean legislature, mdct, mdc and zanupf. Land reform in zimbabwe officially began in 1980 with the signing of the lancaster house agreement, as an effort to more equitably distribute land between black subsistence farmers and white zimbabweans of european ancestry, who had traditionally enjoyed superior political and economic status. By brian raftopoulos since the end of the global political agreement gpa in 20, a sadc facilitated settlement that sought to move zimbabwe out of the legitimacy crisis of the widely discredited elections of 2008, mugabes zanu pf has been battling to find ways to reengage western governments and the. Historical context the terms of the 2008 global political agreement gpa, which attempted to end a political crisis in zimbabwe.
It resulted in the formation of the government of national unity. Nyakudya, munyaradzi 20 sanctioning the government of national unity. Pdf the global political agreement as a passive revolution. Zimbabwe may 2011 what is the global political agreement. Realizing that the current constitution of zimbabwe is flawed in many respects and has contributed to the crisis in zimbabwe, the parties to the global political agreement gpa agreed to embark on a process of developing a new constitution that would address some of the critical contributing factors to the zimbabwe crisis.
Its establishment was negotiated as one of the deliverables of the global political agreement gpa. Global political agreement, appraises the performance of the government of national unity and examines the implications of the zimbabwe situation on sustainable peace in southern africa. Through all of zimbabwes political and economic troubles, mugabe retained the support of many african heads of state and remained popular within zanupf. Dfids assistance to zimbabwe eighth report of session. The structure of the executive branch was altered, allowing for the creation of a prime minister post and the creation of two deputy prime minister posts. Examining zimbabwes global political agreement 25 reconciliation and reform in the medium to long term cheeseman and tendi 2010.
Women participation in politics has dominated agendas at various domestic, regional and international fora. The global political agreements gpa road map intended to lead zimbabwe through widely consultative constitutional change and peaceful, free and fair, elections through five years up to 20 guaranteed by sadc while governing cooperatively, was teetering on a precipice created by the confluence of two phenomena blending the. After the 2008 elections in zimbabwe, three parties entered a government of national unity february 2009 based on a power sharing agreement, the global political agreement. Land question this is a key article as it speaks to the land question, which is a critical resource for the nation and its people.
Global political agreements 2008 download pdf global political agreements 2008 this is the agreement between the zimbabwe african national unionpatriotic front zanupf and the two movement for democratic change mdc formations, on resolving the challenges facing zimbabwe. Background congressional research service 2 wake of the 2008 elections brought international condemnation, but little consensus on how best to stop the violence. The committee engaged with representatives from the key political parties in zimbabwe save for zanupf, a representative from the european union and representatives from civil society organisations, in a dialogue on the progress and impediments towards the implementation of the global political agreement in zimbabwe the committee. The politics of zimbabwes global political agreement harare. However, as the country continued its downward spiral in the.
The gpa, which led to the formation of the inclusive government in zimbabwe in february 2009, was pitched as a high level solution to the political malaise that had become the order of the day in zimbabwe. The programmes stated targets were intended to alter the ethnic balance of. The global political agreement was an agreement between the zimbabwe african national union patriotic front zanupf, movement for democratic change tsvangirai and movement for democratic change mdc, on resolving the challenges facing zimbabwe after the disputed election result of 2008 where morgan tsvangirayi had one the first round of elections. Fri, june 24 2011 global political agreement, zimbabwe update 1 comment the hard road to reform since the signing and initiation of the global political agreement in zimbabwe in september 2008 and february 2009 respectively, the politics of the country has been convulsed with a recurring set of problems even as it has allowed for a certain political and economic stabilization. Women reenergize zimbabwes global political agreement. Four years have lapsed since the official signing of the sadc mediated global political agreement gpa on 15 september 2008. Final report 4 head of state is a good precedent for sub.
Global political agreement international agreement britannica. With the signing of the global political agreement gpa between the zimbabwe african national unionpatriotic front zanupf and the two movement for democratic change mdc factions in september 2008, zimbabwe finally edged closer to finding the longelusive political settlement and a formula for establishing a new political and economic. This article analyses the opportunities and complexities of the sadc mediation in zimbabwes global political agreement gpa in facilitating and operationalising theprinciples and values of peace, security, human rights and democracy as set out in article 4 of the sadc treaty. Pdf the global political agreement gpa signed between the two movements for democratic change and the zimbabwe african national. Agreement gpa in facilitating and operationalising the principles and values of peace, security, human rights and. Following parliamentary and presidential elections held in 2008, a global political agreement gpa was negotiated and signed in september 2008 by the zanupf and the two factions of. The global political agreement as a passive revolution. Reports of governmentorchestrated human rights abuses continued for months afterward. The article explores the development of zimbabwes national security policy nsp as a product of the global political agreement gpa of 15 september 2008 which created a negotiated government of national unity gnu through constitution of zimbabwe amendment no. The threat of normalising authoritarian rule in zimbabwe. Zimbabwes international relations by julia gallagher. Examining zimbabwe s global political agreement 27. The eu started a process of reengagement following the establishment of the government.
Zimbabwes political difficulties have been accompanied by a sharp decline in. The gpa prescribed that the parliament of zimbabwe was to set up. Global political agreement archives newsday zimbabwe. Sadc mediation in zimbabwes global political agreement gpa. Summary the global political agreement between the two main parties in zimbabwe was a significant step towards political stability. Thus, in important ways the global political agreement gpa brokered through sadc could be seen as one major aspect of the passive revolution that has taken place in zimbabwe, in which a ruling party facing an organic political and economic crisis has used the space to reconfigure and renegotiate the terms of its existence with the opposition, civil society and the international community. Saharan africa or an affront to democracy as it encourages losing incumbents to reclaim power through undemocratic and often violent means.
Notes on contemporary politics in zimbabwe article pdf available in the round table 99411. A political agreement is generally aimed at settling political disputes among selected players. In september 2008, after a contested election leading to widespread violence in the country, the zanupf and movement for democratic change mdc, the opposition party signed a global political agreement gpa that instituted a power sharing government. Despite the establishment of a unity government through the signing of the global political agreement, the situation remained dangerous as political reforms were not implemented and mugabes party, the zimbabwe african national union patriotic front zanupf continued to engage in political violence. The global political agreement and democratic transition.
Data for this brief was acquired interactively from ten days of fieldwork in zimbabwe involving interviews with politicians. The global political agreement gpa signed between the two movements for democratic change and the zimbabwe african national union patriotic front zanupf set the change for a new set of political dynamics in zimbabwe. From the 1978 internal settlement to the 2008 global political agreement by douglas munemo submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of doctor of literature and philosophy in the subject of development studies at the university of south africa supervisor. Afrobarometer in august 2010, with results di sseminated in harare, zimbabwe, january 2011. It is encouraging to note that this article, while addressing. Global political agreement international agreement. As zimbabwe prepares for watershed elections set for next year, the insistence by regional leaders on the full implementation of the global political agreement gpa before the. Pdf the effects of the global political agreement on.
The gnu and its implementation framework achieved a number of things for all the three. Although it has not transformed the coercive base of zanupfs support, it has led to new battles for state power and changes in. Human rights developments in zimbabwe in 2012 were dominated by the drafting of a new constitution and the implementation of the global political agreement gpa, signed in 2008, which created the. Change breakaway faction leader arthur mutambara, zimbabwes. The global political agreement was an agreement between the zimbabwe african national union patriotic front zanupf, movement for democratic change tsvangirai and movement for democratic change mdc, on resolving the challenges facing zimbabwe after the disputed election result of 2008 where morgan tsvangirayi had one the first round of. Sadc mediation in zimbabwes global political agreement.
Zimbabwe from a global disagreement to free and fair elections. The agreement came about as a result of inconclusive elections which had seen president robert mugabe being beaten by morgan tsvangirai and zanu pf losing its parliamentary majority to the two mdc formations. Abstract the global political agreement gpa signed between the two movements for democratic change and the zimbabwe african national unionpatriotic front zanupf set the change for a new set of political dynamics in zimbabwe. Global political agreement government of national unity, 15 september 2008.
Human rights ngo forum 2008 can the ele ctions in zimbabwe be f ree and fair in the. Global political agreements 2008 this is the agreement between the zimbabwe african national unionpatriotic front zanupf and the two. Global political agreement, council of jerusalem, early church, conflict management. Whilst we can confirm that the treasury is seriously underfunding the central bank to levels that are now threatening the very existence of the reserve bank of zimbabwe, itself a constitutionally enshrined institution, it would be inappropriate for us to go into the operational issues that are under the consideration of our principles in the global political agreement gpa, said nhongo. You can download this page as a pdf using your browsers print functionality. Global political agreement 2008 agreement between the zimbabwe african national unionpatriotic front zanupf and the two movement for democratic change mdc formations, on resolving the challenges facing zimbabwe.