INTERNAL POLITICS
After the bloody events of the early 80’s (the violent repression conducted by the 5th Brigade in Matabeleland during which thousands of people were killed and leaders of ZAPU where either detained or exiled) an agreement of national unity was signed between ZANU and ZAPU in 1987. The subsequent ten years of Zimbabwean politics were totally dominated by the ZANU-PF party (the result of the fusion of the two ethnic parties, which were born during the liberation war), led by Robert Mugabe, first as Prime Minister then as President. A strong opposition movement came into being only in 1997-1998, following Mugabe’s decision to compensate war veterans even though there was no provision for this in the national budget (this caused a 400% devaluation of the the Zimbabwean dollar) and as a result of the expenses incurred by Zimbabwe during the war in the R.D.C. This opposition movement initially took the shape of protests organised by the Zimbabwe Confederation of Trade Unions (ZCTU), lead by Morgan Tsvangirai, who, in September 1999, created the political party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The parliamentary elections of 2000 took place in an atmosphere of intimidation and violence and culminated in the death of over 30 MDC supporters but the event was a novelty for the country as it resulted in the emergence of an opposition party in Parliament, winning 53 out of the 120 seats. The presidential elections of March 2002, won by Mugabe, were also marked by violence and electoral irregularities. The parliamentary elections of March 2005, however, strongly re-dimensioned the role of the opposition party, which saw its parliamentary seats drastically reduced to 41, whilst the ruling party succeeded in obtaining the two thirds majority in Parliament required to amend the constitution.
The latest main constitutional changes have seen the reintroduction of a second Chamber, the Senate, even though it was abolished after Zimbabwe’s independence. The relative elections, held in November 2005, have caused a deep division among the main opposition party, the M.D.C. (Movement for Democratic Changes) now sub-divided into two factions: one pro-Senate and the other against the Senate. The later still sees as its Head President Morgan Tsvangirai, reconfirmed also following the recent Annual Congress held from 17th to 19th March 2006, he justifies his position denouncing the lack of democracy in Zimbabwe. Electoral fraud has in fact been declared in all the elections held since the General Elections of June 2000.Out of the 50 elected members (16 of the 66 members are directly named by the President of the Republic), Zanu-PF has won 43 seats, while the 7 members voted in for the Pro-Senate Faction of the M.D.C. come from the Matabeleland Province, of N’debele prevalence. Five members out of 5 were voted in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second town, which has always represented the stronghold of the main party’s opposition. In the whole Country only 31 of the 50 seats had been contested by the MDC.
The introduction of sanctions by the EU, enforced after its observers were recalled during the 2002 elections, has seriously damaged relations between Zimbabwe and especially those EU countries which, other than Italy, France and Belgium, suspended all but their humanitarian aid programmes. After Zimbabwe’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth, tension increased between the two principal political forces and as a result all mediation attempts, both nationally, by social workers and the church, and internationally, to re-open dialogue between ZANU PF and MDC, have been fruitless.
COMPOSITION OF PARLIAMENT
The Parliament of Zimbabwe is composed of a House of Assembly, made up of 150 seats and a Senate made up of 66 Senators. The House of Assembly has 120 seats, voted in by the people, while the remaining 30 are directly nominated by the President. Currently ZANU-PF holds 78 of the elected seats in the House of Assembly, and 30 seats nominated by the President, while the MDC holds a total of 41 seats. The only independent Member of Parliament is Dr. Jonathan Moyo, ex Minister of Information, following his election in the Tsholotsho Constituency. The Senate’s 66 seats are made of 50 voted in by the people and 16 nominated directly by the President. In the November 2005’s elections 43 of the 50 elected seats when to ZANU-PF while the MDC only obtained 7 seats.
COMPOSITION OF GOVERNMENT
The present unicoloured ZANU PF Government was formed by the President after the presidential elections of March 2005 and is made up as follows: President - Robert Mugabe; Vice Presidents - Joseph Msika and Joyce Mujuru. Ministers: Defence – Sydney Sekeremayi; Foreign Affairs – Simbarashe Mumbengegwi; Finance – Herbert Murewa; Economic Development – Rugare Gumbo; Home Affairs -Kembo Mohadi; Justice. Legal and Parliamentary Affairs – Patrick Chinamasa; Agriculture – Joseph Made; Education, Sport and Culture – Aeneas Chigwedere; Higher and Tertiary Education – Stan Mudenge; Energy and Power Development – Michael Nyambuya; Industry and International Trade – Obert Mpofu; Health and Child Welfare – David Parirenyatwa; Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development – Ignatius Chombo; Environment and Tourism – Francis Nhema; Mines and Mining Development – Amos Midzi; Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare – Nicholas Goche; Transport and Communications – Christopher Mushohwe; Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development – Mrs Sithembiso Nyoni; Youth Development and Employment Creation – Ambrose Mutinhiri; Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development – Mrs Oppah Muchinguri; Rural Housing and Social Amenities – Emmerson Mnangagwa; Information and Publicity – Tichaona Jokonya; Water Resources and Infrastructural Development – Munacho Mutezo; Public and Interactive Affairs – Chen Chimutengwende; Science and Technology Development – Mrs Olivia Muchena; Policy Implementation – Webster Shamu; Indigenisation and Empowerment – Samuel Mumbengegwi; Special Affairs – Mrs. Flora Bhuka; National Security – Didymus Mutasa; State Enterprises, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Monopoly – Paul Mangwana; without portfolio – Elliot Manyika.
FOREIGN POLICY
Following the end of the war of liberation against Ian Smith, fought with the assistance of the Soviet Union and China, independent Zimbabwe was born in 1980, becoming part of the non-aligned movement countries. The Zimbabwean economy is now basically controlled by the Government in particolar after the crisis in relations with England, which nevertheless maintains a strong influence in the countr, most of all providing donations in order to help the population and gain its sympathy. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Zimbabwe moved towards a market economy and intensified relations with the western countries and with the international monetary organisations. Even on the crest of Mugabe’s anti-colonial and Pan-African ideology, Zimbabwe emerges – until the birth of a democratic and multiracial South Africa in the mid 90’s – as a model country for its neighbours in Southern Africa. In the summer of 1998 the military intervention in the RDC, strongly desired by Mugabe and presented as a SADC peace-keeping operation, with the participation of Angola and Namibia, drives donors and international investors away from Zimbabwe. This split widens owing to the non compliance of the agreements reached during the 1998 Harare conference and the Abuja conference on the agricultural reform and finally breaks in 2000-2001 with the outbreak of violence due to the elections and the illegal occupations of the farms subject of the land redistribution programme. Mugabe is from then on forced to seek alliances and financial backing from countries, such as Cuba, Libya, China and Malaysia, which share his third world approach to international relations. The positions taken during the Johannesburg Conference on Sustainable Development and Zimbabwe’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth allowed Mugabe to avail himself of their backing as well as the backing of SADC and the ACP countries. This encouraged Mugabe to confirm his policy on land redistribution to black Zimbabweans, which he presented as a remedy to years of abuse by the western powers, promoters of the sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe which would impede the full social-economic empowerment of the country and therefore should be held responsible for the present economic crisis in which Zimbabwe finds itself. The recent steps taken by the President to ingratiate himself with countries such as Iran and China could be seen as an anti-Western moves.
RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The EU is the principal donor to Zimbabwe. After its positive mission as observer of the 1980 parliamentary elections, the deterioration of the internal situation, the difficulties of political dialogue as at Articles. 8 and 96 of the Cotonou Convention and its interruption, due to the irregularities of the elections won by Mugabe led the EU to impose sanctions against government members and other local authorities, banning them from travel to Europe and freezing their overseas bank accounts. This resulted in a cooling off of relations between the EU and Zimbabwe which Italy managed partly to escape, thanks to the continuation of its aid programmes, unlike some other EU member states which chose to suspend theirs.
RELATIONS WITH ITALY
The bilateral relations between the two countries remain constructive even if influenced by the difficult conditions in Zimbabwe and the sanctions imposed by the EU. Italy maintained its cooperation commitments in the field of humanitarian aid, in order to assist the needy, numbering more than 80% of the entire population, and obtain some sort of protection for Italian–owned agricultural property from the local authorities but did not renounce its freedom to express criticism in matters of adherence to law and property rights. The two main agreements which exist between Italy and Zimbabwe concern the development of small and medium enterprises and the promotion and protection of investments, both signed in April 1999 by the Hon. Bersani, the then Italian Minister of Industry.
RELATIONS WITH REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Zimbabwe is signatory to the SADC and COMESA agreements of free trade, and is also a member of the OAU and AU. During the Maputo summit, Mugabe was elected one of the five vice-presidents of the Southern African Bureau, representing the entire region. SADC public statements appear to show respect for Mugabe’s anti-colonial and third world views. On the confidential level, however the SADC countries express their concern regarding Zimbabwe’s situation and continue to exercise strong pressure on Mugabe to commence dialogue with the opposition party in order to find a solution to the crisis in the country.
legals
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credits | F.A.Q.