Zimbabwe

Abstract

The chapter provides detailed analysis of domestic politics, foreign affairs, and socioeconomic developments in 2021. There is particular emphasis on progress and regression in terms of democracy, the humanitarian situation, civil and political rights. The Covid-19 pandemic, with its political, social, and economic repercussions, dominated domestic politics. Also prominent were political repression and discord in the main political parties. The article particularly focuses on claims of human rights violations and the perceived persecution of opposition figures who dismissed the sitting president as illegitimate. The government continued its efforts to revive the economy and ‘re-engage’ with the West with little success. Relations with Africa and the Global South remained good. Humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges were complicated by the pandemic. While the opposition and critics continued to blame Zimbabwe’s problems on corruption, bad governance, and mismanagement, the government and its supporters cited the West’s ‘illegal’ sanctions as the cause.

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004519572_056

Repository URI

https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/292614/