When ‘Messiahs’ turn ‘Persecutors’ : reflecting on the blocked transition of liberation movements in Africa - case study of ZANU-PF

Abstract

The core question of the study is why, after 28 years of being in power, has the ZANU-PF liberation movement failed to effectively make the transition to a democratic ZANU-PF political party. The study adds to the debate on the role of liberation movements in the furthering of human rights and democratisation in Africa by tackling the much ignored perspective of a blocked transition that the movements such as the ZANU-PF are culpable for. Looks at what internal factors (within Zimbabwe) have contributed to this blocked transition, examines how the behaviour or response of Zimbabwe’s regional neighbours (SADC), been a contributing factor to this dilemma and questions the extent to which the wider African continent been party to this mayhem of the ZANU-PF’s stalled transition.