The Struggle over State Power in Zimbabwe: Law and Politics since 1950 (African Studies #139)

By: George Hamandishe Karekwaivanane

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Synopsis: The establishment of legal institutions was a key part of the process of state construction in Africa, and these institutions have played a crucial role in the projection of state authority across space. This is especially the case in colonial and postcolonial Zimbabwe. George Karekwaivanane offers a unique long-term study of law and politics in Zimbabwe, which examines how the law was used in the constitution and contestation of state power across the late-colonial and postcolonial periods. Through this, he offers insight on recent debates about judicial independence, adherence to human rights, and the observation of the rule of law in contemporary Zimbabwean politics. The book sheds light on the prominent place that law has assumed in Zimbabwe's recent political struggles for those researching the history of the state and power in Southern Africa. It also carries forward important debates on the role of law in state-making, and will also appeal to those interested in African legal history. Offers readers a unique long-term study of law and politics in Zimbabwe, providing an extensive overview in one key text. By avoiding technical legal concepts, the book offers a multidisciplinary approach to Zimbabwean law and history. Taking forward important debates in the social and political history of law in Africa, it will appeal to students and scholars interested in historiographical debates in African history.