Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in Zimbabwe

This article investigates whether devolution, as currently implemented in Zimbabwe by the Mnangagwa administration, will project the nation towards peace and national cohesion. Such an interrogation is motivated by Zimbabwe’s historical trajectory that is underpinned by deep-seated political, ethni...

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Main Author: Charles Moyo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Hradec Králové 2025-07-01
Series:Modern Africa
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uhk.cz/modernafrica/article/view/258
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author Charles Moyo
author_facet Charles Moyo
author_sort Charles Moyo
collection DOAJ
description This article investigates whether devolution, as currently implemented in Zimbabwe by the Mnangagwa administration, will project the nation towards peace and national cohesion. Such an interrogation is motivated by Zimbabwe’s historical trajectory that is underpinned by deep-seated political, ethnic, racial, and regional cleavages that predate the colonial epoch. Accordingly, this article, based on interviews and the study of reports and literature, posits that the current devolution process in Zimbabwe is part of the Mnangagwa administration’s package of cosmetic reforms designed to mislead Africa and the West. Congruently, lukewarm and cosmetic devolution dictated by a kleptocratic, financially constrained, and authoritarian centre (central government) is likely to frustrate the periphery (grassroots), accentuate existing social schisms, and further inflame secessionist sentiments in some provinces of Zimbabwe.
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spelling doaj-art-780635f4b36d409daaa5f51b1e3ffc962025-08-20T02:45:15ZengUniversity of Hradec KrálovéModern Africa2336-32742570-75582025-07-0113110.26806/modafr.v13i1.258Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in ZimbabweCharles Moyo0National Institute of Public Administration This article investigates whether devolution, as currently implemented in Zimbabwe by the Mnangagwa administration, will project the nation towards peace and national cohesion. Such an interrogation is motivated by Zimbabwe’s historical trajectory that is underpinned by deep-seated political, ethnic, racial, and regional cleavages that predate the colonial epoch. Accordingly, this article, based on interviews and the study of reports and literature, posits that the current devolution process in Zimbabwe is part of the Mnangagwa administration’s package of cosmetic reforms designed to mislead Africa and the West. Congruently, lukewarm and cosmetic devolution dictated by a kleptocratic, financially constrained, and authoritarian centre (central government) is likely to frustrate the periphery (grassroots), accentuate existing social schisms, and further inflame secessionist sentiments in some provinces of Zimbabwe. https://journals.uhk.cz/modernafrica/article/view/258decentralisationdevolutionpeacenational cohesionZimbabwe
spellingShingle Charles Moyo
Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in Zimbabwe
Modern Africa
decentralisation
devolution
peace
national cohesion
Zimbabwe
title Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in Zimbabwe
title_full Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in Zimbabwe
title_short Devolution and the Quest for Peace and National Cohesion in Zimbabwe
title_sort devolution and the quest for peace and national cohesion in zimbabwe
topic decentralisation
devolution
peace
national cohesion
Zimbabwe
url https://journals.uhk.cz/modernafrica/article/view/258
work_keys_str_mv AT charlesmoyo devolutionandthequestforpeaceandnationalcohesioninzimbabwe