Hlamalani Chitanga, Gideon2014-11-212014-11-2120142014-08Hlamalani Chitanga, G. (2014). Brief 2 : Perils of Democratization by Power Sharing: Lessons from Zimbabwe (2009-2013). UPEACE Africa Policy Series, 1(2): 23-34.http://hdl.handle.net/10625/53317Interventions by the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in intrastate democratization conflicts show that power sharing is the practice of choice, possibly becoming a norm. There seem to be an emerging consensus that regionally mediated inclusive political pacts are the best solution to foster peace, stability and democratization in dealing with an election deadlock. At a closer look, elite pacts may achieve temporal stability and negative peace at the expense of broad based long term democratization. The case of Zimbabwe demonstrates that regionally mediated power sharing settlements could be inimical to democratization. By insulating political elites from civil society and the masses, leaving the fate of the country in the hands of power interested elites, power sharing reduces the democratization process to a mere political game amongst the winning elites. In the absence of political willingness and commitment to reform, the former sole incumbent regime may use power sharing to regain control of the state. To sustain momentum for democratization, domestic and regional players should embrace broader inclusive approaches of national dialogue to provide for high political participation, legitimacy and durable post conflict democratic order.Text1 digital file (p. 23-34)Application/pdfenZIMBABWEELECTORAL SYSTEMSPOLITICAL INFLUENCEPOWER SHARINGPOLITICAL POWERPOST-CONFLICT SOCIETIESDEMOCRATIZATIONEXCLUSIONPOPULAR PARTICIPATIONNATION BUILDINGPolicy Brief