Source: Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, Zimbabwe Political Economy Review
This paper is part of a series of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute’s analysis of authoritarian erosion and opportunities and possibilities for regime breakdown in Zimbabwe. Previously, ZDI has argued that elite discohesion in Zanu PF, coupled with discohesion in the security apparatus of the state and economic crisis are ingredients for regime breakdown. This paper posits that coupled with elite discohesion and economic regression, opposition cohesion is also of paramount importance in authoritarian erosion and possible regime breakdown.
The publication examines the politics of opposition party coalitions in Zimbabwe identifying fault lines that have militated against opposition coalitions. Given the political context of an electoral authoritarian regime in Zimbabwe, this paper goes further to identify measures that would help to improve the endurance, success and democratic quality of opposition coalition in Zimbabwe. This paper is informed by two factors. Firstly, the recent nascent attempts by opposition parties towards forging an electoral coalition ahead of the 2018 general election under the auspices of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) and the Coalition of Democrats (CODE). Secondly, it is influenced by the current state of fragmentation among opposition forces and the democratic contingent in general.