An analysis of the effectiveness of sub regional bodies in offering remedy to post election violence in sub Saharan Africa: The case of SADC on Zimbabwe 2008-2014

Abstract

The defeat of ZANU PF party in first round of the March 2008 election resulted in a massive violence against its oppositions the MDCs. The violence attracted attention from the international communities, thereby leading to the intervention of SADC in Zimbabwe. The research noted that a summit was held to discuss Zimbabwe’s political violence. The former president of South Thabo Mbeki was to lead a peace keeping mission as a mediator between the ZANU PF party and the MDCs. The negotiations gave birth to the GNU which has been criticized as a marriage of convenience and a method of postponing the problem. The research notes that the GNU was characterized by clash of interests within the government due to its difference in ideologies. Therefore, the research is an analysis of the effectiveness of sub regional bodies in offering remedy to post election violence in Sub Saharan Africa. The study uses the case of SADC on Zimbabwe 2008-2014. The findings of the research includes lack of unity within SADC members and limited resources within the organization to fund its peace keeping mission, thereby making it challenge to be effective when depending on a donor’s budget. The research notes that the principle of Sovereignty and non-state intervention continue impose constraints on the ability of SADC to intervene at an early stage. The study note that SADC managed to normalise the political environment in Zimbabwe 2008 -2014, however it failed to address the cases of violence that were already reported ,thereby denying justice to the victim of the post-election .