Non-violent resistance as a political strategy in Zimbabwe : a case study of the Movement for Democratic Change

Abstract

This study explores the dimensions of human security and developmental challenges in Zimbabwe using the concept of nonviolent resistance as an analytical framework for understanding post-colonial violence in this country. It examines the use of nonviolent resistance as a political strategy by the Movement for Democratic Change in the democratisation process in Zimbabwe, after its formation in 1999. Factors that promote violence in Zimbabwe’s polity are identified and recommendations for moving Zimbabwe towards violence-free politics are made. It is argued that the practice and discourse of non-violent resistance is neither new nor unique to Zimbabwe. The thesis briefly traces the culture of violence and nonviolent resistance in Zimbabwe since 1980, and the non-violent strategies employed up to 1999. It examines post-independent political and peace-building processes as missed opportunities in ending the culture of violence in Zimbabwe. This is a qualitative research study, which draws data from document analysis, interviews and focus group discussions. The central thesis is that violence has been a major affront to human security, thereby affecting development. Nonviolence, as a political strategy, has achieved considerable success in the democratisation process. It has helped to amplify the Zimbabwean struggle for democracy on the international scene. The study deploys the nonviolence theory to unmask political violence and democratisation processes. It leans towards the pursuit of nonviolent resistance as the panacea to human security and development, and as an approach to conflict resolution and peace building. This can help Zimbabwe to achieve its human development goals. The thesis recommends that governments and political parties must strive to achieve peace, human security and development.

Lolu cwaningo lubheka ubukhulu bokuphepha kwabantu kanye nezinselelo zentuthuko eZimbabwe kusetshenziswa umqondo wokumelana nodlame njengohlaka lokuhlaziya ukuqonda udlame lwangemva kobukoloni kuleli zwe. Luhlola ukusetshenziswa kokumelana okungenabudlova njengesu lezombusazwe yiQembu Loshintsho Lwentando Yeningi (Movement for Democratic Change) ohlelweni lwentando yeningi eZimbabwe, ngemva kokubunjwa kwayo ngo-1999. Izici ezikhuthaza udlame eZimbabwe ziyavezwa njalo iziphakamiso zokuthi iZimbabwe iqhubekele kwezombusazwe ezingenadlame. Kuthiwa umkhuba kanye nenkulumo yokuphikisa abantu abangenalo udlame akuyona into entsha futhi akuyona into engavamile eZimbabwe. Umbhalo weziqu ulandelela kafushane isiko lodlame nokungalwi eZimbabwe kusukela ngo-1980, kanye namasu angenalo udlame asetshenziswa kwaze kwaba ngu-1999. Luhlola izinqubo zangemva kwenkululeko nokuthula kwezombusazwe njengamathuba alahlekile ekuqedeni isiko lodlame eZimbabwe. Lolu wucwaningo lwendlela yokuchaza, oludonsa imininingwane ekuhlaziyweni kwemibhalo, ezingxoxweni nasezingxoxweni zamaqembu okugxilwe kuwo. Umbhalo weziqu oyinhloko wukuthi udlame beluwukuhlukumeza kakhulu ukuphepha kwabantu, ngaleyo ndlela kuphazamise intuthuko. Ukungabi nodlame, njengesu lezombusazwe, kuzuze impumelelo enkulu enqubeni yentando yeningi. Kusize ukukhulisa umzabalazo weZimbabwe wentando yeningi emhlabeni jikelele. Ucwaningo lusebenzisa umbono wokungabi nodlame ukuze kudalulwe udlame lwezombusazwe nezinqubo zokubusa zentando yeningi. Luncike ekuphishekeleni ukumelana okungenadlame njengesixazululo sokuphepha nentuthuko yabantu, futhi njengendlela yokuxazulula izingxabano nokwakha ukuthula. Lokhu kungasiza iZimbabwe ukuthi ifeze izinjongo zayo zokuthuthukisa abantu. Umbhalo weziqu uphakamisa ukuthi ohulumeni namaqembu ezombusazwe kumele balwele ukuzuza ukuthula, ukuphepha kwabantu kanye nentuthuko.

Olu phando luhlalutya imilinganiselo yokhuseleko loluntu kunye nemingeni yophuhliso eZimbabwe kusetyenziswa ingcamango yoqhankqalazo olungenabundlobongela njengesikhokelo sokuhlalutya ukuqonda ubundlobongela obusemva kwexesha lobukoloniyali kweli lizwe. Luphonononga ukusetyenziswa koqhankqalazo olungenabundlobongela njengesicwangciso sezopolitiko seNtshukumo yoTshintsho lweDemokhrasi (Movement for Democratic Change) kwinkqubo yedemokhrasi eZimbabwe, emva kokusekwa kwayo ngo1999. Izinto ezikhuthaza ubundlobongela kwezopolitiko eZimbabwe ziyachongwa kuze kwenziwe iingcebiso zokusa iZimbabwe kwipolitiki engenabundlobongela. Kukho ingxoxo yokuba inkqubo nentetho yoqhankqalazo olungenabundlobongela ayikho ntsha kwaye ayikhethekanga eZimbabwe. Le thisisi ilandelela ngokufutshane inkcubeko yobundlobongela kunye noqhankqalazo olungenabundlobongela eZimbabwe ukususela ngo1980, kunye neendlela ezingenabundlobongela ezazisetyenziswa ukuya kuthi ga ngo1999. Iphonononga iinkqubo zokwakha uxolo kwezopolitiko emva kokuzimela, njengamathuba aphosiweyo ekupheliseni inkcubeko yobundlobongela eZimbabwe. Olu luphandontyilazwi, lunedatha evela kuhlalutyo lwamaxwebhu, udliwanondlebe kunye neengxoxo zeqela ekugxilwe kulo. Eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukuba ubundlobongela buye babasisithuko esikhulu kukhuseleko loluntu, ngaloo ndlela buchaphazela uphuhliso. Ukungabikho kobundlobongela, njengesicwangciso sezopolitiko, kuphumelele kakhulu kwinkqubo yedemokhrasi. Kuye kwanceda ekukhuliseni umzabalazo waseZimbabwe wedemokhrasi kumazwe ngamazwe. Olu phandu luhambisa ithiyori yokungabikho kobundlobongela ukubhenca ubundlobongela bezopolitiko kunye neenkqubo zedemokhrasi. Lungqiyama ekulandeleni uqhankqalazo olungenabundlobongela njengesisombululo kukhuseleko loluntu kunye nophuhliso, nendlela yokusombulula ungquzulwano kunye nokwakha uxolo. Oku kunganceda iZimbabwe ifezekise iinjongo zayo zophuhliso loluntu. Le thisisi icebisa ukuba oorhulumente kunye namaqela ezopolitiko kufuneka bazabalazele ukufezekisa uxolo, ukhuseleko loluntu kunye nophuhliso.