The Wounds of the Perpetrators: The Legacy of the Liberation War on the Belligerent Face of Zanu-PF Politics in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Many valuable books and articles have been written to explain the Zimbabwean political, economic, and social crisis, and to better understand it. Most of the authors agree that the root of the crisis is the firm grip of Zanu-PF on maintaining power. Beyond the known explanations (legitimacy as a former liberation movement), this paper explores why political power seems to be so existential for the Zanu-PF elite. It is hypothesized that the experiences (e.g. humiliation and imprisonment) of Zanu-PF seniors in the Apartheid system of South Rhodesia and their background as guerilla fighters have left a deep impact. Facing their own mortality and fragility in life threatening situations has led to the attempt to create an alleged safe space within the fortress of the party, and as far as possible, in the country. One strategy for dealing with suppressed inner fears is to control the outside world. Therefore, the creation of a belligerent face and Zanu – PF’s preparedness for war, with which it confronts all political opponents, is a logical step within this framework. The paper draws on the findings of political and social psychology, trauma and somatic research and neurobiology to underline its hypothesis. It also aims to offer a different view of conflict management and “reconciliation”.

Keywords: conflict, violence, trauma, political psychology, neurobiology, somatics, conflict resolution, authoritarianism, images of the enemy, transition, democracy, dictaturship, liberation movement, liberation war, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, Zanu-PF, victims, process of coming to terms with one's past