Discourses on the politics of sanctions continue to be lauded in Zimbabwe and even beyond, largely because of the contentious land reform programme which has sent diplomatic shockwaves across the globe.
Re-Imagining and Re-Casting ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: The Novel “Coming Home” and the Contemporary Resurgence of Race-Inspired Nationalism in Zimbabwe’s Past Decade
Today, race occupies the heart of Zimbabwe’s nationalist discourses that were revived circa 2000 to prop up the idea of correcting the racial land tenure system. However in the succeeding years this country, once touted as the epitome of progressive African independence, underwent a serious political and economic implosion marked by world-record inflation and a collapse in basic social services.
Trapped in Disintegration: Post-2011 Presidential Election Violence and National Security in Nigeria
Free and fair elections have been a central force for democratic sustenance and consolidation all over of the world. However, the paradox of Nigeria’s 2011 election – adjudged free, fair and credible by many throughout the world – is that it may have spawned a very dangerous web of insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria and left hundreds of southerners’ lives and properties destroyed.
Creating a Culture of Impunity in Zimbabwe: A Case for Philosophical Input in Developmental Issues
Crimes are endemic especially those committed by political leaders. Africa is indeed bleeding from crimes such as embezzlement of funds, abuse of resources, human rights abuses, persecution and torture of people, and above all, non-prosecution of persons responsible for crimes committed.
Politics of Rumour and Rumour in the Power Dynamics
ABSTRACT Rumour is generally viewed as suspect evidence because, it is supposedly, communication constructed on unverified information. However, rumour, has seemingly transcended this generalized negative connotation and has acquired some air of importance with news value placed on it. This paper attempts an examination of rumour as a political manipulation tool, its social relevance and […]
Money Politics, Political Culture of Godfatherism and the Future of Democracy in Nigeria—Lessons from the 2007 Gubernatorial Election in Edo State
ABSTRACT Nigeria is one of the African countries that is responding to Western pressures to make its states acquire a liberal and democratic culture. Over the years, Nigeria has practiced what can be described as fraudulent democracy. This democracy has been characterized by obnoxious acts such as indiscriminately using money and by very powerful and […]
Patron-Client Politics: Democracy and Governance in Nigeria, 1999-2007
ABSTRACT: This paper will examine patron-client politics in the context of democracy and governance in Nigeria with special focus on the first phase of the Fourth Republic, 1999-2007. This paper, which is essentially based on study of secondary source data, reveals that the politics is neither historically new nor peculiar to Nigeria. Its evidence abounds […]
Elections in Nigeria Since the End of Military Rule
ABSTRACT: Since the end of military rule in May 1999, the nationwide elections have been trailed with issues and incidents that generate a lot of anxiety, fear and trepidation. For the record, since the exit of the military from political power, there have been general elections in 2003 and 2007. The conduct and outcome of […]
De-constitutionalising? Democratic Governance in Nigeria: Assessing executive- legislative handling of executive-power vacuum in the fourth republic
Nigeria returned to constitutional democracy anchored on the presidential system in 1999. Under the new fourth republic constitution, while there are three distinct institutions of government, each organ of government is vested with certain responsibilities. To avoid disruption in the running of the state’s affairs, certain constitutional obligations and duties are given to the executive […]
Growing Civic Awareness – Symptomatic Rehearsal of True Democratic Dividend: Lessons from Nigeria’s General Elections of 2007
The concept of democratic dividend is a peculiar one among Nigerian politicians whereby political office holders believe that their call to service is occasioned by the need to garner as much of political goods to their electors as possible from the “national cake”. Therefore, there is a popular conception (or perhaps misconception) among the local […]
