From 'Defending Sovereignty' to 'Fighting Corruption': The Political Place of Law in Zimbabwe After November 2017. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verheul , Susanne
• Other Names: Helliker Kirk guest-editor.; Chikozho Mazarire Gerald guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of Asian and African studies. Volume 56:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 203
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Zimbabwe -- coup -- judicial appointments -- corruption cases; Social change -- Africa -- Periodicals; Social change -- Asia -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Africa -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Asia -- Periodicals; Africa -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Asia -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Africa -- Periodicals; Asia -- Periodicals; 950
• DOI: 10.1177/0021909620986587
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9096

Abstract

In this article, I examine the shifting language of debates over law and justice in Zimbabwe in the run-up to, and following, the November 2017 coup. I argue that the rhetoric Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) drew upon to secure its authority and negotiate legitimacy through law, shifted from a focus of 'sovereignty' and 'protection', to one of battling 'corruption' and 'criminality'. At the same time, there remained a consistency in the manner that the legal system was used to target a select part of the country's population, those opposed to ZANU–PF and its vision for the future.