ZIMBABWE’S ZEZURU SUM GAME

This research paper analyzes the political crisis in Zimbabwe circa 2005, arguing that the ruling ZANU-PF elite is trapped in an 'insecurity dilemma' driven by the fear of international prosecution for human rights abuses. The author explores how this fear, combined with ethno-linguistic factionalism—specifically the dominance of the Zezuru faction—impedes a peaceful transition to democracy and shapes the party's resistance to power-sharing with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

• The author identifies an 'insecurity dilemma' among Zimbabwe's political elite, where the fear of being held accountable for gross human rights violations prevents them from negotiating a peaceful transition or sharing power.
• The 'Zezuru sum game' describes a political environment where the Zezuru ethno-linguistic faction, including President Robert Mugabe and Solomon Mujuru, maintains hegemonic dominance over the state to protect themselves from rivals and future prosecution.
• Internal ZANU-PF conflict is characterized by ethno-linguistic divisions, specifically between the dominant Zezuru faction and the Karanga group led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, who feel marginalized.
• Zimbabwe's political culture is described as inherently undemocratic, shaped by a combination of pre-colonial non-competitive politics, autocratic colonial rule, and a militaristic liberation struggle.
• The 2005 parliamentary elections resulted in a two-thirds majority for ZANU-PF, winning 78 of 120 elected seats, while the MDC won 41 seats, a decrease from the 2000 elections.
• By 2005, Zimbabwe faced severe economic collapse characterized by hyperinflation, domestic debt of $1.1 billion, and a shrinking economy.
• The author argues that the principle of universal jurisdiction and the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have increased the vulnerability of Zimbabwe's leaders, as national amnesties do not protect against international prosecution for crimes against humanity.
• The author suggests that to break the political stalemate, the issues of political transition and legal accountability should be separated, allowing for an urgent economic and political solution before addressing human rights violations.

APA

MAROLENG, C. (2005). ZIMBABWE’S ZEZURU SUM GAME. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ASR14NO3EMAROLENG.PDF

Chicago

MAROLENG, CHRIS. ZIMBABWE’S ZEZURU SUM GAME. Institute for Security Studies, 2005. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ASR14NO3EMAROLENG.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=MAROLENG |first1=CHRIS |title=ZIMBABWE’S ZEZURU SUM GAME |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2005 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ASR14NO3EMAROLENG.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{maroleng2005zimbabwes, author = {MAROLENG, CHRIS}, title = {{ZIMBABWE’S ZEZURU SUM GAME}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2005}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ASR14NO3EMAROLENG.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }