A Nation in Dire Straits

A Nation in Dire Straits
Law, Politics and the Crisis in Zimbabwe
The Inaugural Annual Basker Vashee Memorial Lecture
Speaker: Dr. Alex Tawanda Magaisa

8 June 2006, 20:00–22h00
De Balie, Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 10, Amsterdam

See press release

The lecture will address the challenges facing the citizens of Zimbabwe and propose approaches to overcoming them. The paper will proceed on the proposition that the crisis in Zimbabwe has demonstrated the complex task facing a nation struggling to define itself and its goals. The search fordemocracy has unravelled contradictions within the socio-political and economic landscape, which both the ruling party and the opposition movement are struggling to deal with. As such, the crisis can be framed as an opportunity for Zimbabwe to grapple with key issues of law, governance, economic and social structures. It will be argued that the crisis caused at least two types of damage: the visible and invisible. Visible damage is readily evident through physical deterioration of infrastructure, hyperinflation, material shortages, malnutrition, breakdown in and abuse of the law, et al.

The solution is the departure of President Mugabe and his ZANUPF regime. It is argued that this approach will only bring marginal success. On the other hand, invisible damage is harder to pin down but on closer inspection it is evident in the culture, behaviour and attitude of the citizens towards each other, the state and other institutions such as the law. It will be argued that while it is important to focus on redressing the physical damage, from a long term perspective the material aspectsof change rest in dealing with the invisible deterioration. In this regard it will be argued that in addition to insisting on the having a new government and a new Constitution, it is much more significant to focus on building a conducive constitutional culture in which that Constitution can thrive. To this end the opposition movement must be subjected to scrutiny and held accountable to the citizens. A new government is achievable, but the key task is whether the negative culture of governance cultivatedover the years can be overcome. Zimbabwe will need the assistance and cooperation of regional and international partners but these partners will also need to have a clear understanding of the culture and social conditions of the people of Zimbabwe

Dr. Alex Magaisa (1975) is an erudite, new generation intellectual from Zimbabwe who offers constructive insights into how to move that troubled land towards peace, democracy and prosperity.

He is a prolific legal, political and economic commentator on Zimbabwe, writing a regular column for the Zimbabwe Independent, one of the few remaining independent newspapers in Zimbabwe. His article on "The Pitfalls of Opposition Politics in Zimbabwe" published last year provoked a storm of debate among the recently split MDC opposition bloc and the NGO community. He is critical of apolitical NGOism, which he argues has inadvertently weakened the opposition, and urges leaders of the MDC factions to consider the bigger picture in the hope of finding new common ground.

Dr. Magaisa is a lawyer by profession and is currently working on financial services regulation in the Channel Islands. He was until recently a law lecturer at the University of Nottingham (UK), and holds a PhD in Law and LLM in International Economic Law from the University of Warwick, and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe.

Celebration of the Life of Basker Vashee
20 February 1944 - 18 July 2005

The Transnational Institute (TNI) cordially invites you to a commemoration in honour of our much-loved late friend, comrade and colleague, Basker Vashee.

His was a life worth remembering and celebrating. TNI is hosting this event to bring together all the family, friends and colleagues, who knew Basker, worked with him and enjoyed his friendship. We have chosen as a venue Basker's favourite hangout in Amsterdam - a café in the beautiful, lively Vondelpark, outside of which he died that sad, sunny summer afternoon last year.

Venue: Parisien Zaal of the Filmmuseum - Vondelpark 3, Amsterdam
Date: Thursday 8 June 2006
Time: 15:00-17:00

Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible to Kathleen Anderson at the TNI offices: Kathleen@tni.org Tel: +31-(0)20-6626608 Fax: +31(0)20-6757176