Mnangagwa: Understanding the key features of his personalistic dictatorship

President Mnangagwa flanked by his wife (to his left) during the official opening of the 10th Parliamentary session in Harare - Credit: OPC Zimbabwe

By Pride Mkono

President Mnangagwa is Zimbabwe’s second executive president, since independence in 1980, after he took power following a military coup in 2017. Two elections, 2018 and 2023, which followed his ascension to power have failed to address the legitimacy question of his leadership. His leadership over the last 6 years degenerated from promises of reforms to outright personalistic dictatorship. In the same period, he has thrown the country into various constitutional crises and is likely to do so again. I posit that Mnangagwa will seek a third term in violation of the existing constitutional provisions or seek to influence the succession to his office. Both events will throw the nation into a constitutional crisis. However, this should not be shocking given the deepening personalistic dictatorship which has come to define the Mnangagwa presidency. In this article, I will explore the nature and character of Mnangagwa’s personalistic dictatorship, its key features, and its implications for governance and society in Zimbabwe.

What is a personalistic dictatorship?

Most of you readers have already heard Mnangagwa defined as a dictator or an authoritarian. While, in strict political science terms, the two terms refer to similar but different models of leadership, in the daily context they are used to describe the same traits. It is this context that I use them here for ease of understanding. It is my submission that Mnangagwa's leadership is a variant referred to as the ‘personalistic dictatorship.’

Personalistic dictatorship is a form of authoritarian rule characterized by the concentration of power in the hands of a single leader, often referred to as a "strongman" or "autocrat." This type of regime is distinct from traditional authoritarian or totalitarian systems, as it revolves around the personality, and or charisma and or financial resources of the leader rather than a rigid ideology or party structure. While ZANU PF has structures, their impact on important decisions of government and the party is negligible. In fact, Mnangagwa appoints most of those with decision making power in the party and government, and this gives him ultimate power over all major decisions.

1. Dominance of the leader

At the heart of Mnangagwa’s personalistic dictatorship is his overwhelming dominance as leader, which is both a creation of the constitution and the general political culture in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa individually controls all branches of government, military, judiciary, public media, and majority of domestic and foreign economic investments. Outside ZANU PF, he has cultivated a cult of personality, portraying himself as a saviour, super patriot, and indispensable through the ‘#4ED’ organisations. What Mnangagwa lacks in charisma he has compensated in omnipresence through a massive publicity campaign with thousands of top range vehicles, large banners, posters, and t-shirts everywhere showing his face. Everything seems to be ‘for ED’ and he has left nothing to chance when it comes to make that point.

2. Weak institutions

Personalistic dictatorships, like Mnangagwa, tend to have weak or highly compromised institutions. Since assuming power after the 2017 coup, Mnangagwa has sought to consolidate his personal authority by eliminating and undermining all and any forms of checks and balances. He has gone to an elaborate length to capture and undermine judiciary and legislature so that he can rule without any constraints. These captured Institutions have now become hollow shells with no real power to perform their legitimate constitutional duties.

3. Repression and surveillance

To maintaining control on power, the Mnangagwa presidency has been characterised by a high degree of repression and surveillance. Opposition parties, independent media, and civil society activists are frequently suppressed or co-opted by the ruling regime. Citizens are subjected to constant surveillance, and dissent has been met with harsh punishment. Imprisonment, abduction and torture being approaches of choice to silence opposing views. This has cultivated an intense climate of fear that ensures Mnangagwa’s continued dominance.

4. Manipulation of elections

In personalistic dictatorships, elections are often manipulated to maintain a facade of legitimacy, and this has been the standard under Mnangagwa for two successive elections. The opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, has given him a tough run but the elections have been so shambolic that Mnangagwa has been declared winner without any verification. In all, the elections have been designed to rubber-stamp Mnangagwa’s rule rather than provide a genuine choice for the electorate. Resultantly, the electorate has been rendered powerless and opposition completely emasculated through successive manipulated elections.

5. Economic Control

Mnangagwa has also usurped all economic power and concentrated in his hands and that of his inner circle. His family and acolytes have grown extraordinarily rich from feeding off the state largesse. This control over resources has been used to reward loyalty and punish dissent within the ruling establishment. Corruption is rampant and state resources are being siphoned off for personal gain.

6. Nationalism and propaganda

Personalistic dictators frequently employ nationalist rhetoric and propaganda to consolidate their rule. To this end, Mnangagwa has attempted to present himself as the embodiment of the nation's identity and interests, using the ‘nyika inovakwa nevenevayo’ (translated to the country is built by its owners) mantra. This tired nationalistic rhetoric has been used to justify repression and looting of the state. If anything, Mnangagwa and his cohorts are far from representing Zimbabwe's national interests.

7. Insecurity and instability

Despite his outward image of strength Mnangagwa, like all personalistic dictators, is governing the country in an atmosphere of insecurity and instability. He is wary of potential rivals and threats to his power and is accused of purging some of the generals who lead the coup in November 2017. His decision-making has been erratic, and he has surrounded himself by family and tribe members. Mnangagwa also has a large contingent of security personnel whenever he travels or sleeps, his paranoia is running high.

8. Succession challenges

One of the defining features of personalistic dictatorships is the challenge of succession. Since power is so closely tied to the leader's personality, the question of who will replace them often looms large. At 81, Mnangagwa is the oldest president in SADC and is entering what is supposed to be his last five-year term, but all indications are that succession is far from being resolved. In personalistic dictatorships, succession crises can lead to power struggles and even violence. President Mnangagwa’s exit from power will, most likely, follow this rule of thumb. The second amendment to the 2013 constitution removed the running mate clause, effectively removing a key part of succession to the presidency.

9. International relations

Personalistic dictators often pursue erratic and unpredictable foreign policies. The focus is on self-preservation and the maintenance of power can lead to a disregard for international norms and agreements. To this end, Mnangagwa has pursued a chaotic international relations pathway. First, he paid large sums of money to lobbyists in Washington, London, and Brussels to clean his image and portray him as a reformer. This attempted failed dismally and he the aligned himself more with traditional allies in the form of China, Russia, and Belarus. Within SADC, he has a dithering relationship with factions within the ruling ANC party, but the simple fact is that everyone is tired of Zimbabwe’s unending crises and failure of its leadership to resolve them.

10. Longevity and vulnerabilities

While personalistic dictatorships can endure for extended periods, they are not immune to vulnerabilities. Popular uprisings, economic crises, or internal power struggles can undermine the leader's grip on power, leading to regime change. Given this reality, Mnangagwa has made strategic mistakes and brewed crises after crises. His stay in power is equally due to his ruthlessness and the strategic failure of those opposed to him. A united front of civil society, labour, students, democratic opposition, and the diaspora working with progressive elements in the regional and international community has the best chance to upset the Mnangagwa regime through nonviolence and civil disobedience.

In conclusion, personalistic dictatorship represents a distinct form of authoritarianism centred around a single charismatic leader. It is characterized by the dominance of this leader, weak institutions, repression, manipulation, and a focus on the leader's personality rather than ideology. While these regimes can persist for years or even decades, they often face internal and external challenges that can lead to their downfall. Understanding the nature and character of personalistic dictatorship is essential for analyzing the dynamics of resisting Mnangagwa’s illegitimate rule and ultimately bringing him down..

Pride Mkono is a political analyst and social justice activist. He writes here in his personal capacity and can be contacted at pridemkono@gmail.com or X @MkonoPride