SADC and the conflict mediation role in Zimbabwe : 2007-2013

Abstract

It is crucial to examine the historical conflict mediation role that SADC played in Zimbabwe given the country’s continuous political instability and economic catastrophe. Zimbabwe held its first all-race elections in 1980, and ZANU, a liberation movement-turned political party under Robert Mugabe, emerged victorious. ZANU, which later became ZANU-PF after amalgamation with ZAPU, ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 to present. However, in the mid-90s the country began to experience economic and political problems, characterised by a weakening of the economy and political repression of the government’s opponents. Against this background, these issues threatening to unravel Zimbabwe became the focus of attention from the international and African political milieu from the early 2000s onwards. This was because the economic and political crises had already caused, and were causing, Zimbabweans so much anguish and insufferable pain. In view of these problems, this article aims to examine the mediation role of SADC in Zimbabwe. The article uses a qualitative design and case study approach, with SADC mediation in Zimbabwe being the case study, and relies on data that is available in the public domain. SADC employed mediation to carry out a role that is typically undertaken by a regional organisation. However, its involvement was significantly circumscribed by the organisation’s commitment to the principle of non-intervention and the impact of its role limited by the method of mediation, which by nature is peaceable and relies on the consent of the conflict parties. While temporarily halting the political unrest, using mediation in Zimbabwe had the unexpected consequence of entrenching ZANU-PF dominance. As a result, the country relapsed into political instability. It is recommended that when using mediation to manage, de-escalate or end conflicts or crises, SADC must ensure that the settlements struck are not structured in a manner that assists one party in the dispute to gain too much power over the other, as was the case with the ZANU-PF and the MDCs.