Rule of law and respect for rights

• Zimbabwe attained independence from White minority rule

  1980
• Since then the country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle
• Its leader, Robert Mugabe, ruled the country since independence
• Elections were held regularly and always won by ZANU-PF
• President Mugabe was popular but also used unfair practices in elections
• Over the years his government changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable
• Opposition party workers were harassed and their meeting disrupted
• Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal
• There was a law that limited the right to criticise the President
• Television and radio were controlled by the government and gave only the ruling party's version
• There were independent newspapers but the government harassed those journalists who went against it
• The government ignored some court judgments that went against it and pressurised judges
• He was forced out of office in 2017
• The example of Zimbabwe shows that popular approval of the rulers is necessary in a democracy, but it is not sufficient
• Popular governments can be undemocratic
• Popular leaders can be autocratic
• If we wish to assess a democracy, it is important to look at the elections
• It is equally important to look before and after the elections
• There should be sufficient room for normal political activity, including political opposition, in the period before elections
• This requires that the state should respect some basic rights of the citizen
• Basic rights of the citizen that must be protected

  • To think
  • To have opinions
  • To express these in public
  • To form associations
  • To protest and take other political actions
• Everyone should be equal in the eyes of law
• These rights must be protected by an independent judiciary whose orders are obeyed by everyone