Coming soon, 'Robert Mugabe: A Tyrant's Quest for Legitimacy'

Preface
The purpose of this book is to interrogate the classic authoritarianism of Robert Gabriel Mugabe as Zimbabwe enters an uncertain future after the expiry of the Global Political Agreement amidst squabbling within the coalition government in Harare. The book is focusing on Robert Mugabe because he has been in charge since independence to the present day. It has become de rigueur for analysts to recognise that he was a promising leader who became corrupted by power. "The Black Robespierre," as the Telegraph's Aislinn Laing once described Mugabe, put white fears at rest through his reconciliation rhetoric only to become a political demagogue two decades later as he took revenge on white farmers supposedly for backing the rejection of his draft constitution in the 2000 referendum. Since then, Mugabe's despotic rule has wreacked havoc as the good man went wrong to arguably surpass the absolute ruler or tyrant depicted in the introduction to Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince, a book which teaches effective tactics for the absolute ruler. In Robert Mugabe: A Tyrant's Quest for Legitimacy, emphasis is on how the he fits or departs from the description of a prince as being solitary, vicious and grindingly cruel to those who stand in his way.
 
Chapter one seeks to correct widespread misrepresentations about the country's cultural heritage while Chapter two is a critique of Mugabe's leadership or lack of it using the theoretical framework of a tyrant described by Girolamo Savonarola in his Treatise on the Government of Florence and aptly included in Anthony Grafton's introduction to The Prince. Chapter three examines the corruption pandemic under the stewardship of Robert Mugabe, while chapter four is a brief discussion on the economic challenges facing Zimbabwe. Chapter five examines Mugabe's disregard for human rights while chapter six takes a look at how he has shaped Zimbabwe's isolation and reclusive character in international relations. In chapter seven, land reform is subjected to a critique based on theoretical, research and practical anecdotal evidence. In the final chapter, discussion turns to what is perceived as Zimbabwe's institutionalised electoral corruption and was written with the July 2013 elections in mind, therefore includes commentary on the voters roll which analysts say is in a shambles; the disenfranchisement of the Diaspora; and the Special Vote debacle of 14 and 15 July 2013. Enjoy the book and send the author your comments – including constructive criticisms and reviews.

Everything is now in the hand of the editor. Clifford has washed his hands! It's coming soon. Watch this space. Herewith a link to the cover preview or email the author for assistance.

About the author
Clifford is a London-based political analyst and strategy consultant. He will be interviewed about Zimbabwean elections by CBC Radio tomorrow Monday 29 July at 11.15 a.m. and will give a live commentary on the same elections on Arise cable/Satellite Television channel on Wednesday 31July between 2.00 p.m.- 3.00 p.m. - Zimanalysis2009@gmail.com