Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

The political dialogue in Pretoria, South Africa, between the Zimbabwean government and the political opposition, is reason to be cautiously optimistic. This dialogue was the result of a conference of countries of the Southern Africa Development Community, held in March 2007 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

From the start of the dialogue process it was unclear whether South African president Mbeki would manage to get the two parties to the negotiating table. Also, he had to make sure that the representatives of the opposition party MDC would show sufficient unity. In addition, he continually had to verify whether the negotiators on behalf of the Zimbabwean government would actually show up and whether the position taken by these negotiators would be fully endorsed by president Mugabe himself.


Falling apart

Being involved in lengthy negotiations must be an awkward experience for opposition politicians that see their country fall apart in the process. Due to stringent price controls (an inappropriate mechanism to combat run-away inflation) Zimbabwe finds itself with empty shelves and petrol stations. The process of businesses closing down has accelerated and unemployment has reached unprecedented levels. The Mugabe government not only tries to control prices, but also promotes ‘indigenisation’ of the industrial and mining sectors, chasing away the few remaining whites in the country.


Democratic agenda

Full-fledged democracy in Zimbabwe involves a lot more than an electoral victory by the democratic opposition. In the current conditions an electoral victory for the opposition would be unthinkable due to the control exerted by the Zimbabwean government over all aspects of the electoral process. The opposition rightly stresses the need for a new constitution, new electoral laws and the repeal of various other laws.

NIMD's Zimbabwe Programme contributes to an inclusive dialogue on a democratic agenda for Zimbabwe. As the electoral process is unlikely to generate democratic conditions a dialogue between all relevant stakeholders in and around Zimbabwe is essential. The formulation of alternative policies on sectoral, legal and constitutional issues is a priority area for Zimbabwe. NIMD will continue to follow all processes in and around Zimbabwe that could assist in bringing democracy to this desperate country.