ZIMBABWE NETZWERK e.V.

Mediating electoral conflict in Zimbabwe

Africa at LSE writes:" Stanley Tsarwe and Admire Mare examine the media's role in triggering political violence. This post is part of the African Elections series. As part of a research grant provided by the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and the Social Science Research Council, we analysed the role of the media in Zimbabwe's 2008 general elections. Our study contributes to the broader literature on the role of the media conflict situations, particularly in societies such as Zimbabwe that are characterised by contradictory processes of democratisation (emerging post 1980 independence) and tendencies towards authoritarian rule. Zimbabwe has often been characterised by electoral violence, and in 2008, the media played a key role in its mediation from the build-up to the election through to the post-election period. ... ...".