Political Decay

One form of political decay is called repatrimonialization, of which Zimbabwe and many other developing countries suffer from. However, this is also evident in developed countries, but in a more subtle or covert form.

The favouring of family or friends with whom one has exchanged reciprocal favours is a natural form of sociability and is a default manner of human interaction. According to Fukuyama in The Origins of Political Order, the most universal form of human political interaction is a patron-client relationship in which a leader exchanges favours in return for support from a group of supporters. Even if new rules are put in place to recruit on the basis of function or talent, there is constant pressure to repatrimonialize the system. Individuals initially recruited into an institution on impersonal grounds nonetheless often try to pass on their positions to their children or friends. I cannot separate this term from politics of patronage, which is the control of or power to make appointments to government jobs or the power to grant other political favours.

As a country, we have a lot of work to do post-Mugabe. Politics of patronage is so much embedded in our politics; it will take an enormous effort to reduce it. To be honest, there are a lot of intelligent and well deserving young turks in the ruling ZANU – PF. Young people who are determined to work with the opposition political parties for the good of the country.

However, due to the fact that Mugabe has resorted to put trust on old, outdated and over recycled guards, repatrimonializing continue to recur. The old guards will continue to appoint their incompetent relatives in our institutions. Our young graduates from universities are left jobless and roaming the streets. This is one sign of political decay taking place.

Tendai Kwari @tendaikwari