Theoretical Aspects of The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission Presentation by Dr' Leonard T' Kapung

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IS PEACE, CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE IN
ZIMBABWE? BY CECILIA NEDZIWE ROTARY WORLD
PEACE FELLOW
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MAP OF ZIMBABWE
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HISTORICAL BACKDROP

• ZIMBABWE IS A LANDLOCKED COUNTRY
• HOME TO THE VICTORIA FALLS AND THE GREAT STONE
  HOUSES
• A FORMER BRITISH COLONY.
• IN 1979 A NEGOTIATED LANCASTER HOUSE PEACE
  AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED TO END THE LIBERATION WAR
• IN 1980 ELECTIONS WERE HELD THAT BROUGHT IN POWER
  MAJORITY RULE

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POPULATION

• ZIMBABWES POPULATION BY 2007 AMOUNTED TO 13.3
  MILLION (UN REPORT)
• CAPITAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE IS HARARE
  WITH A POPULATION OF 1.1 MILLION
• AREA OF THE COUNTRY IS APPROXIMATELY 391,000SQ KM
• THE MAJOR LANGUAGES ARE ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL
  LANGUAGE, SHONA (84) AND SINDEBELE (14)
• MAJOR RELIGIONS ARE CHRISTIANITY AND INDIGENOUS
  BELIEFS
• LIFE EXPECTANCY 44 YEARS FOR MEN AND 43 YEARS
  FOR WOMEN (UN FIGURES)
• MONETARY UNIT ZIMBABWE DOLLAR
• MAIN EXPORT TOBACCO, COTTON, AGRICULTURAL
  PRODUCTS, GOLD AND MINERALS

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POST INDEPENDENCE ZIMBABWE

• 1981- 1987 GENOCIDE AGAINST THE NDEBELE ETHNIC
  MINORITY
• 1997 - UPRISING OF THE WAR VETERANS AND
  UNBUDGETED PAYMENT OF GRATUITEES BY THE
  GOVERNMENT TO WAR VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION WAR
• 1998 INTERVENTION IN THE DRC TO DEFEND THE
  GOVERNMENT AGAINST REBELS FROM RWANDA AND UGANDA
• 2000 FAST TRACKED LAND REDISTRIBUTION PROGRAMME
  
• 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CHARACTERISED BY
  MASSIVE VIOLENCE

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CONT

• 2005 (IDPS AND REFUGEES) CLEAN UP OPERATION
  RESULTING IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HOMES OR
  BUSINESSES 700,000 PEOPLE WERE LEFT HOMELESS
  (UN REPORT)
• MARCH 2007 WAS CHARACTERISED BY MASSIVE VIOLENCE
  TARGETING MOSTLY OPPOSITION PARTIES
• JUNE 2007 - PRICE CONTROLS ON ALL BASIC
  COMMODITIES
• BAD GOVERNANCE

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CURRENT SITUATION

• ZIMBABWEAN CONTEXT
• PLETHORA OF CHALLENGES

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POLITICAL SITUATION

• LACK OF TRUST AND RESPECT IN THE INSTITUTIONS
• POLITISATION OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS
• EXCESSIVE USE OF SECURITY FORCES
• ARBITRARY ARRESTS, TORTURE AND DETENTION OF
  OPPOSITION POLITICAL ACTIVIISTS

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POLITICAL FRAGMENTATION
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RULING PARTY ZANU-PF
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POLARISATION WITHIN CIVIL SOCIETY
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ECONOMICALLY

• high inflation rate 6000 / 100,000
• shortage of foreign currency,
• Food shortages
• soaring price of basic commodities,
• increasing unemployment (80)

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Cont

• high level of corruption
• Criminalisation of the society
• Increasing problems of illegal migration and
  brain drain 3million have left the country
• Scarcity or inaccessibility of health care

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DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS

• THE SHRINKING ECONOMY
• HIGH RATE OF INFLATION
• ESTIMATES SHOW THAT 80 OF THE POPULATION LIVE ON
  LESS THAN 2 DOLLARS A DAY
• GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT HAS DECLINED BY 30 IN THE
  LAST FIVE (5) YEARS
• INFLATION HAS AFFECTED ACCESS TO EDUCATION,
  HEALTH AND BASIC HOUSEHOLD NEEDS
• HALF OF THE POPULATION ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD
  SHORTAGES

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HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES

• RAPID DECLINE IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
  FOR SOCIAL SERVICES DELIVERY
• FOOD INSECURITY
• WATER AND POWER SHORTAGES
• HIV/AIDS

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?

• IS PEACE, CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE?

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ROTARYS ROLE

• WHAT ROLE CAN ROTARY PLAY IN THE ZIMBABWE
  SITUATION?

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CONT

• THANK YOU!