Why Zimbabwe Needs a Transitional Government

The briefing argues that Zimbabwe's political crisis, characterized by contested elections and state power abuse, necessitates a transitional government. Unlike a government of national unity, a transitional government acts as a short-term caretaker to draft a new constitution and create an environment for free and fair elections. The author proposes an inclusive body comprising more than just the MDC and Zanu-PF, potentially with Robert Mugabe remaining as president under strict checks and balances, supported by expanded mediation from SADC, the AU, and the UN, as well as international civilian peacekeepers.

• A transitional government is defined as a caretaker government established in the absence of legitimate governing authority, consisting of appointed officials with a limited mandate to move a country from conflict to a democratically elected government.
• The author distinguishes a transitional government from a government of national unity (GNU) based on three main factors: the method of entry (appointment versus election), the mandate (creating a new constitution and electoral space versus joint governing under an existing constitution), and the time frame (short versus indefinite).
• A transitional government is deemed more appropriate for Zimbabwe than a GNU because the country's constitution is contested, state power is abused, and the two polarized parties are unlikely to achieve the unity required for a stable GNU.
• The proposed transitional authority for Zimbabwe should be inclusive of more than just the MDC and Zanu-PF, potentially allowing Robert Mugabe to remain president provided checks and balances are implemented, and should be mandated for one year to draft a new constitution and ensure free and fair elections.
• To ensure success, the author suggests expanding the number of mediators beyond South Africa to include the AU and UN, and recommends that the international community provide financial aid, humanitarian assistance, and civilian peacekeepers.

APA

Hendricks, C. (2008). Why Zimbabwe Needs a Transitional Government. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/topics/corruption-and-governance/15-apr-2008-iss-feature-the-crisis-in-zimbabwe/02-jul-2008-iss-today-why-zimbabwe-needs-a-transitional-government

Chicago

Hendricks, Cheryl. Why Zimbabwe Needs a Transitional Government. Institute for Security Studies, 2008. https://issafrica.org/topics/corruption-and-governance/15-apr-2008-iss-feature-the-crisis-in-zimbabwe/02-jul-2008-iss-today-why-zimbabwe-needs-a-transitional-government.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hendricks |first1=Cheryl |title=Why Zimbabwe Needs a Transitional Government |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2 July 2008 |url=https://issafrica.org/topics/corruption-and-governance/15-apr-2008-iss-feature-the-crisis-in-zimbabwe/02-jul-2008-iss-today-why-zimbabwe-needs-a-transitional-government |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hendricks2008why, author = {Hendricks, Cheryl}, title = {{Why Zimbabwe Needs a Transitional Government}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = jul, url = {https://issafrica.org/topics/corruption-and-governance/15-apr-2008-iss-feature-the-crisis-in-zimbabwe/02-jul-2008-iss-today-why-zimbabwe-needs-a-transitional-government}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }