International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Effects of sanctions on Zimbabwe (2000-2020)

Tapfuiwa James Katsinde (Dr)
Department of Peace and Governance, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe

Abstract: The study evaluated the imposition and effects of sanctions on Zimbabwe. The study is guided by exchange theory. This was a desk research which used the internet and secondary sources. The study revealed that the imposition of sanctions is regarded differently by those who imposed them and by those on whom the sanctions were imposed. Each side explains the imposition of sanctions on the basis of their own interests. For the Zimbabwean government and the ruling party sanctions were imposed as a result of the land reform carried out by the government to solve the uneven distribution of land in the country. On the other hand, the western countries who imposed sanctions explain the sanctions as being caused by the Zimbabwean government’s failure to respect human rights and lack of rule of law. The study also reveals that there is divergent interpretation of whether the sanctions were legal or illegal. The Zimbabwean government believe that the sanctions were illegal as they did not have the blessing of the United Nations but those who imposed the sanctions believe they were legal as they passed through their parliamentary institutions. Sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe had a negative impact on the economy to a certain extent as they are other factors for the economic instability in the country. It is recommended that the Zimbabwean government should try to improve the political environment in the country to influence those who imposed sanctions to remove them.
Key words: sanctions, imposition, effects.

I.INTRODUCTION

Life for Zimbabweans since 1980 has been characterised by ups and downs. In literature they would call the life of Zimbabweans as being characterised by vicissitudes. From 1980 to 1990 the economy of the country was generally good thereby benefitting citizens’ livelihood. From 1990 to 2000, Zimbabwe went through a turbulent period as it tried to find its own economic character after a honeymoon decade when the economy was basically supported by well-wishers from different countries. From 2000 to 2010, the economic landscape of the country and lives of citizens was eclipsed by politics as the ruling party, ZANU (PF), fought opposition politics led by MDC of Morgan Tsvangirai. The decade after 2000 also witnessed an economic crisis as a result of combination of factors such as land reform, political instability, and participation of the army in the DRC war, sanctions imposed by western countries, corruption or drought. From 2010 to 2020 the country was characterised by two main issues: Government of National Unity and the implosion within ZANU (PF) leading to the coup de’ tat in 2017 and the ultimate fall of the long-serving president R G Mugabe and his passing on 2019. The subject of this paper is to analyse one of the factors, sanctions, which allegedly had negative effects on the economy of Zimbabwe.