Why Zimbabwe has not crumbled

This research paper examines why Zimbabwe has not experienced a total state collapse despite severe economic crisis, hyperinflation, and international sanctions under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe.

• President Robert Mugabe has remained in power for 24 years despite internal political paralysis following disputed elections in March 2002 and external pressure from the US, European Union, and Australia.
• Zimbabwe's economy is characterized by extreme instability, with inflation reaching 700 per cent and a black market exchange rate that is 100 times higher than the official rate of Z$55 to the dollar.
• The author identifies three primary reasons why the Zimbabwean public has not risen up against the Zanu-PF government: the passivity of political actors due to historical trauma and state brutality, a lack of external assistance for democratic forces, and the transition to a feudalistic, politicised economic system.
• A small political elite continues to profit from the economic collapse through five main channels: direct patronage (including seized land and preferential interest rates as low as 15 percent), the informal currency market, fuel procurement, state-sponsored fraud involving multiple exchange rates (including an exporters' rate of Z$824 to $1), and the exploitation of state pension funds and monopolies.
• The author suggests that the international community could exert leverage over the political elite by closely scrutinizing their foreign assets.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2004). Why Zimbabwe has not crumbled. https://saiia.org.za/research/why-zimbabwe-has-not-crumbled/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Why Zimbabwe has not crumbled. 2004. https://saiia.org.za/research/why-zimbabwe-has-not-crumbled/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Why Zimbabwe has not crumbled |date=10 March 2004 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/why-zimbabwe-has-not-crumbled/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2004why, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Why Zimbabwe has not crumbled}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2004}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/why-zimbabwe-has-not-crumbled/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }