Journal of Power, Politics & Governance

Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity: Successes and Challenges in Restoring Peace and Order
Treda Mukuhlani

Abstract
This paper seeks to assess the efficacy of Government of National Unity (GNU) political system, using Zimbabwe as a case study when comparing it with other forms of government. This paper also looks at how problems and crises which were prevailing before signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) were addressed by the formation of the GNU. The Global Political Agreement was an agreement between the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)s. The GNU in Zimbabwe was born on 11 February 2009 out of mediations by Thabo Mbeki the then South African president. Negotiations started in September 2008 and it subsequently resulted in the signing of the GPA on 15 September 2009 by R.G Mugabe (ZANU PF), M. Tsvangirai (MDC .T) and A. Mutambara (MDC.M). The GPA was concerned about the challenges that faced Zimbabwe and the multiple threats to the wellbeing of the people and therefore determined to resolve these permanently. The effectiveness of the GNU could also be judged according to the framework that created it that was the GPA. The issue of power-sharing in Zimbabwe proved to be effective because it offered checks and balances against abuse of power by political parties in the GNU.

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