Partisan security forces are Zim’s biggest election risk

ARE partisan security forces Zimbabwe’s biggest election risk? This key democratic question is extensively interrogated by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.

The pertinence of this question and how security forces are at the centre of shadow States is further probed in The Shadow State in Africa,’ Democracy in Africa’s latest publication.

Security forces and politics Section 208(2) of the Zimbabwean Constitution provides that security services must not be partisan or further any political party interests.

To this end, what is envisaged are neutral non-affiliated security services. But available evidence seems to suggest otherwise.

According to Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, the country has a “highly partisan and extremely politicised” security force which has seen the ruling party openly benefiting from its political patronage. Further, this military factor has contributed to impunity and a dearth of the rule of law.

Similarly, Democracy in Africa highlights how the capture of democratic political systems by private power networks, also known as shadow States, threatens human rights. It also shows how these networks of unelected political fixers and civil servants wield more power than elected legislators.

In such instances, real power ceases to vest in official institutions of government, rather, parallel government structures assume “access to the inner sanctum of power.”

Shadow States in Zimbabwe

According to the Democracy in Africa’s research, Zimbabwe has undergone three phases of shadow States and security forces were a key component at each stage.

The initial period was the covert shadow State from 19902000, which operated behind the scenes but was apparent from loyalists of the ruling party being appointed to key military posts, for example.

During this time, in order to consolidate power, the elite pushed for a de jure one-party State. The shadow State in crisis, which occurred between 2000 and 2008, was the second phase.

Recommendations

The involvement of security forces in shadow States has a negative impact on the holding of free, fair and credible elections. To this end, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition recommends urgent security sector reform to ensure that the sector stays away from civilian and political affairs.

Additionally, the setting up of the Independent Complaints Mechanism set out in section 210 of the Constitution which facilitates investigation into the misconduct of security forces is emphasised.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition