Abstract:
This article analyses the challenges of the Government of National Unity (GNU) on
public administration in Zimbabwe. Confl icts do not only affect the economy, but also
adversely affect the liberties of the population of the affected country. In the absence
of timely interventions, the effects of internal confl icts may eventually spread to the
neighbouring countries. In the interest of regional peace and trade, regional blocs
have an obligation to participate in the search for a lasting solution to confl icts in
member states. The 29th March 2008 harmonised general elections failed to produce
an outright presidential winner. Subsequently this led to the non-recognition of the
results of the run-off pitting Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union
– Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) and Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC-T), by the local, regional and international communities. This in turn
prompted the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to intervene in
order to avert a leadership crisis by brokering a power-sharing agreement involving
ZANU PF and the two MDC formations. The 15th September 2008 agreement marked
the historic signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which paved the way for
the consummation of the GNU on 13th February 2009. The power-sharing deal has its
own problems too. To determine and explore the various challenges and obstacles to
public administration arising from the power-sharing agreement, relevant literature
was studied, analysed and contextualised. The solution which was meant to achieve
political expediency has presented public offi cials with some unanticipated challenges
arising mainly from political polarisation and the politicisation of public institutions.
Nevertheless, the GNU has registered a few positive results, but such successes are
not within the scope of this article.
