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This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes Zimbabwe's development trajectory up to 2043, comparing a 'Current Path' (business-as-usual) against eight sectoral scenarios and a 'Combined scenario'. It evaluates the impact of interventions in demographics, health, agriculture, education, manufacturing, infrastructure, AfCFTA integration, financial flows, and governance on economic growth, poverty alleviation, and sustainability.

This introductory research paper provides a geographic, political, and demographic overview of Zimbabwe, detailing its landlocked position in Southern Africa, its ethnic composition, and its transition from independence in 1980 through the leadership of Robert Mugabe to Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This insights brief by the Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA) examines the role of urban informality in building equitable resilience in cities across southern Africa and the Global South. It argues that while informality is often invisible or viewed as a challenge, it provides critical services, livelihoods, and innovation that can enhance urban resilience if harnessed through inclusive governance and partnerships.

This research paper analyzes the dynamics of Zimbabwe's August 23, 2023, general elections, focusing on the contest between incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) and challenger Nelson Chamisa (CCC). The author examines the electoral system, campaign strategies, and the systemic barriers facing the opposition, while highlighting the election's significance for Zimbabwe's international re-engagement and its role in the global critical minerals market.

The April 2022 Peace & Security Council Report examines the security crisis in Burkina Faso, the implementation of the African Union's (AU) youth, peace and security agenda, the appointment of the fifth Panel of the Wise, and Senegal's priorities as AU chair.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Western Cape Government examines the impact of South Africa's 2020 COVID-19 lockdown on violence and policing, specifically focusing on 11 police areas in Cape Town. Using murder data, interviews, and a survey of over 5,000 residents, the study identifies a strong correlation between alcohol bans and the reduction of sharp-object murders and fatal violence against women, while finding that firearm-related murders remained largely unaffected by lockdown restrictions.

A case study on the OffgridSun project in Zimbabwe, which installed solar-powered water pumping systems to mitigate the effects of El Niño-induced droughts in rural communities.

This report synthesises 50 'Voices from the Frontline' stories from June 2020 to October 2021, documenting how local communities in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean coped with the compounding effects of Covid-19, climate change, and socioeconomic vulnerability. It examines these experiences through the lens of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting grassroots resilience and the need for external actors to support locally-led solutions.

This policy brief examines the failure of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to enforce its democratic electoral standards, using Zimbabwe's July 2018 elections as a primary case study. The author argues that SADC's institutional weaknesses and a culture of 'brotherhood' solidarity among leaders prevent the effective implementation of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, leading to a culture of impunity for member states that violate democratic norms.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the 2013 Zimbabwean general election to challenge the 'legitimating narrative' that President Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF won due to an expanded social base and popular policies. The author argues that the victory was instead secured through the capture of state institutions, systemic electoral fraud, and the use of violence and intimidation, suggesting that the electoral terrain for the 2018 polls remains fundamentally undemocratic.

This report examines the governance of urban land markets in Zimbabwe, focusing on the institutional challenges, the role of various actors, and the accessibility of land and housing for the urban poor.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the failure of the Kimberley Process (KP) to address human rights abuses and smuggling in Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields. It argues that the KP's narrow definition of 'conflict diamonds'—which only covers rebel groups—is inadequate when abuses are perpetrated by state security forces. The authors call for a reform of the KP's definitions and monitoring mechanisms to include government accountability.

This research paper explores the complexities of resource governance in Africa, examining how the extraction of minerals and oil often triggers conflict driven by greed and grievance. The author argues for a transition from violent political struggle to a discourse of cooperation and the creation of transparent institutional structures to ensure that resource wealth benefits local communities and national development rather than fueling instability.

This research paper examines the socio-economic conditions of border communities between South Africa and Mozambique, highlighting how poverty, restrictive legislation, and corruption fuel organised crime and smuggling networks involving sugar, alcohol, and salt across Southern Africa.

This document is an opening address delivered by Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 31 October 2007. The speech outlines the ISS's regional security initiatives across Africa and discusses the challenges of policing, crime statistics, and security preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

This research paper examines the illicit trafficking of stolen and hijacked vehicles from South Africa into Zimbabwe, specifically focusing on the Beit Bridge border post. It analyzes the methods used by criminal networks, the institutional challenges of border policing, and the systemic weaknesses that facilitate smuggling.

This research paper provides an overview of the progress made toward establishing the African Standby Force (ASF) as of May 2005. It details the continental policy framework adopted by the African Union (AU) and examines the specific implementation efforts, capabilities, and challenges within three regional bodies: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The document highlights significant gaps between policy aspirations and operational capacity, primarily driven by funding shortages and limited national military capabilities.

This guide provides an introduction to selecting environmentally sensitive building materials, emphasizing the reduction of embodied energy, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the impact of industrial manufacturing on global ecosystems.

This research paper analyzes the 2002 multiparty elections in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Zambia, evaluating the democratic processes, legal frameworks, and the role of electoral commissions in the SADC region.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyses the observations of six domestic, regional, and international missions regarding the 2002 Zimbabwe presidential election. It examines the legislative framework, the political environment, and the conduct of the polling and counting processes, highlighting significant discrepancies in how different observer groups weighted evidence of violence and transparency to reach their final conclusions on the election's legitimacy.