Zimbabwe security sector reform in the post-Mugabe era: Continuity or discontinuity?

Since achieving independence in 1980, Zimbabwe’s security sector has been the cornerstone of the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union’s (ZANU PF) political survival strategy. The security sector has been notorious for participating in political violence and electoral malpractices, prompting calls for security sector reform (SSR). This paper, drawing on secondary data from a range of open access materials, including textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles and grey literature, discusses the contentious SSR debate in Zimbabwe. The article contributes to the debate on whether change of leadership (Presidency) automatically transforms regime security perspectives by interrogating whether the post-Mugabe era effectively dismantled the partisan security sector system or perpetuated its continuation. It also provides actionable recommendations for the development of a comprehensive SSR framework, which ensures that the security sector is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of all Zimbabweans. The paper emphasises inclusive civilian oversight of security institutions, increasing local ownership and participation in security sector governance, and integrating gender mainstreaming into the SSR concept, both in theory and in practice. It is argued that comprehensively addressing entrenched power structures and the ruling elites’ lack of political will is essential to enhance government agencies’ effectiveness and responsiveness to SSR imperatives.