Unpacking the concepts of 'Vene' and 'chinhu chedu' in the 'Second Republic' and Implications for inclusive politics and development in Zimbabwe
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(Published version)
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2025
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Chimwayange, C.
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Journal of Asian and African Studies, online, 2025; online(3):1-16
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This article explores the socially constructed concepts of 'Vene' (owners) and 'chinhu chedu' (our thing) in Zimbabwe's 'Second Republic', using postcolonial theory to assess their impact on inclusive politics and national development. Although portrayed as nationalist ideals, these notions reveal hidden hierarchies and tensions. The analysis frames them within discourses such as political economy, greed and grievance, power preservation, media control, one-party state ambitions and a culture of impunity. The article concludes that the ruling elite's use of these two concepts reflects an evocation of colonial-era power retention strategies, risking social unrest due to their increasingly divisive nature.
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Copyright 2025 The Author(s).