Corruption, rent-seeking behaviour have characterised 2nd republic since November 2017

THE latest publication by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition tracks and assesses the performance of various key governance indicators ever since November 2017.

The paper looks at governance from three perspectives which are politics, economy and society.

The deposing of the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017 marked the genesis of the “second republic”, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

At the onset of the “second republic”, the new President promised a significant number of reforms that would change the governance culture and practices of the country.

Some of the promises made included fighting corruption, observance of human rights, upholding the rule of law, opening up of the democratic space, improving the ease of doing business and re-engaging with the international community.

Prior to this, Zimbabwe had been experiencing an unending crisis with political, economic and social dimensions ever since the late 1990s.

Critical to this unending crisis has been the impasse on questions around governance, human rights and democracy.

This has brought the role of institutions in governance and the economy under scrutiny for the past two decades.

The country has always held periodic elections on time and schedule, has a number of supposedly independent institutions and a highly-organised and vibrant civil society.

However, the other arms of government such as Parliament and the Judiciary have generally been perceived as being under the dominance of the Executive.

Government has had tumultuous relations with civil society and frosty relations with business.

Zimbabwe has persistently faced questions about the rule of law and independence of its institutions of governance.

The policy practice has, in most cases, been at variance with what is provided in the Constitution and the law.

The issue of civil-military relations continues to haunt the Zimbabwean society and remains one key unresolved question.

Corruption and rent-seeking behaviour have characterised the conduct and operation of most public sector institutions, hence the capture of State institutions by the political elite and ultimately erosion of service delivery.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition