THE STATE OF HUMAN SECURITY IN AFRICA: ZIMBABWE CONCEPT NOTE

The document identifies the primary threats to human security in Zimbabwe as a political impasse following the March 2008 elections and a severe economic collapse. It highlights the role of state control over the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the impact of the Fast Track Land Resettlement Programme on political polarization, and hyperinflation exceeding 100,000% in January 2008. While noting a lack of open ethnic conflict, it observes that racial and ethnic prejudices are often mobilized for political gain during periods of turbulence.

• The primary threats to human security in Zimbabwe are the unresolved political impasse and a deteriorating economic situation.
• The 2008 presidential election results showed Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC) with 47.9% and Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF) with 43.2%, leading to a delayed run-off election scheduled for June 27, 2008, amid allegations of state control over the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
• Zimbabwe's economy experienced a severe downturn with real GDP expected to contract by 6.2% in 2008 and inflation surpassing 100,000% in January 2008.
• Political tension and polarization in Zimbabwe have been driven by structural dynamics, including the Fast Track Land Resettlement Programme starting in late 1999 and elections in 2000 and 2002.
• Despite a lack of open ethnic violence, racial and ethnic prejudices are frequently used by politicians for gain during times of political and economic instability.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). THE STATE OF HUMAN SECURITY IN AFRICA: ZIMBABWE CONCEPT NOTE. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/STATEHUMSECNOTE.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. THE STATE OF HUMAN SECURITY IN AFRICA: ZIMBABWE CONCEPT NOTE. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/STATEHUMSECNOTE.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=THE STATE OF HUMAN SECURITY IN AFRICA: ZIMBABWE CONCEPT NOTE |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/STATEHUMSECNOTE.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndstate, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{THE STATE OF HUMAN SECURITY IN AFRICA: ZIMBABWE CONCEPT NOTE}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/STATEHUMSECNOTE.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }