In a disquieting development, Zimbabwe’s forthcoming general elections slated for 23 August have veered into unsettling territories. The nation now beholds the disqualification of 12 opposition parliamentary aspirants in Bulawayo and independent presidential contender, Saviour Kasukuwere. This disconcerting manoeuvre, perceived by many as the handiwork of increasingly politicised and usurped courts, has kindled fears over the dwindling democratic values under the aegis of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling party, Zanu PF. This contentious tampering with the electoral process through judicial channels unveils a troubling milestone in Zimbabwe’s drift towards a partisan judicialisation of politics, with repercussions that could bolster the sway of Zanu PF’s dominion.
Zimbabwe’s democratic bedrock trembles as it contends with overt subversion of its electoral integrity. Zanu PF, a party proficient in the dual arts of persuasion and coercion, has habitually employed a carrot-and-stick modus operandi to clinch electoral triumphs. Its tactics span from leveraging patronage and vote-buying to resorting to coercion, intimidation, and sporadically, violence. Since its climb to power in 1980, the party has tenaciously clung to authority, with the removal of former president Robert Mugabe in 2017, and Mnangagwa’s subsequent ascendancy through a military coup, doing little to assuage fears of its authoritarian inclinations.
The recent ejection of opposition candidates and the independent presidential hopeful unveils a grave aspect—the exploitation of the judiciary to advance the ruling party’s political ends. Once hailed as a bastion of impartiality and justice, the courts now seem to be yielding to political sway. This nefarious trend, dubbed ‘partisan judicialisation’, sounds the alarm over the judiciary’s independence and its vulnerability to political co-optation.
The decision by President Mnangagwa to prolong Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s tenure by five years in 2021 only fuels the growing unease. This move, enveloped in controversy due to constitutional amendments that enabled the extension, embodies the entanglement of the judiciary with Zanu PF’s survival blueprint. Such actions epitomise a system gradually subsumed by a juristocracy, where judicial clout is harnessed to entrench and fortify authoritarian rule.
As Zimbabwe dangles on the verge of a full-scale crisis, its democratic ambitions hang in limbo. The international community, once buoyant for democratic strides, must recognise the exigency of the circumstances. The 43-year-long narrative of Zanu PF’s rule elucidates a mastery of manipulation extending well beyond the polling booths.
It behoves the international community and regional allies to amalgamate efforts in addressing this worrisome trajectory. Sanctions, diplomatic exertions, and targeted interventions could be instrumental in nudging Zimbabwe to realign its democratic compass. The citizenry of Zimbabwe merit a future that venerates their cardinal rights and upholds the ethos of equitable and free elections.
The ousting of opposition candidates in Bulawayo and the independent presidential aspirant, orchestrated by politicised and captured courts, shines a light on Zimbabwe’s harrowing voyage towards partisan judicialisation and exacerbated authoritarianism. With the judiciary morphing into an accomplice in power consolidation, the grip of President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF on the nation’s political canvas tightens. Facing unparalleled challenges, Zimbabwe’s democratic institutions are at a crossroads, urging the global fraternity to rally in ensuring the nation veers back onto the avenue of genuine democracy and justice.
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