Civil society and peacebuilding in Zimbabwe’s 2018 elections

ABSTRACT Zimbabwe’s 30 July 2018 elections took place after ‘a military assisted transition’ that ousted Robert Mugabe and installed Emmerson Mnangagwa as president in November 2017. Initially, the new government projected a reformist image and gave civil society hope for a democratic dispensation. Using the ‘local approach’ framework of analysis, this article examines the role played by civil society organisations (CSOs) in peacebuilding in the 2018 elections. Arguably, civil society’s activities defused some tensions; and promoted cohesion, harmony, dialogue, engagement and peace among political actors in the pre-election period. However, CSOs’ lack of autonomy and partisanship dented their credibility and legitimacy in peacebuilding. Civil society’s polarised response to post-election violence shattered hopes for a common peacebuilding strategy.