Though present
extractive institutions are the main focus of this article, what is more troubling is the mindset of persistence that is foreshadowed.
With this past election, “Few people believe that they
(would) be free and fair” (Coltart), and they were of
course correct. The corrupt and tyrannical political party, the African Nation
Union-Patriotic Front, led by Robert Mugabe, once again was ‘elected’ into
office.
As stated, this was no
surprise, so even though it’s not the best thing ever, it’s not the worst. Its
legacy is what will leave the country and people scarred. The author of the
article is hopeful that change will come, and when it does, “the nation will have to rediscover the rule of law and the
sanctity of persons and property” (Coltart); but people have come to expect that things can’t change, so
there is not initiative to try, especially if the reigning political party will
murder you for it. Even when/if a better institution
rises up, it “will have to find a way for the people of Zimbabwe to heal
the wounds caused by decades of political violence” (Coltart). Because there is currently no room for hope, the
citizens will tumble into a
persistent cycle of fear and oppression for the foreseeable future, possibly
undermining any reconstructive efforts.
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