ABSTRACT

This article examines how the securitisation of COVID-19 helped the ZANU-PF government to consolidate power. It uses data collected from various document sources such as news outlets, social media platforms, and websites. Additionally, the researchers conducted informal interviews with Zimbabweans through social networking platforms. The study found that the measures the government (securitising actor) adopted to contain the coronavirus did not match the degree of the threat and noted glaring discrepancies between what the government said and its actions. In addition, the implementation of the COVID-19 measures indicates that the ruling party sought to achieve other agendas other than protecting the public (referent objects). The administration used extraordinary measures associated with curbing the spread of COVID-19 as a cover to decimate the opposition coalition, Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance (MDC-A), and consolidate power through the politicisation of food, harassment of those who broke the lockdown measures, prevention of anti-government protests, postponement of elections, and constitutional amendments.

摘要

本文探讨了 COVID-19 的证券化如何帮助 ZANU-PF 政府巩固权力。它使用从各种文档来源收集的数据，例如新闻媒体、社交媒体平台和网站。此外，研究人员通过社交网络平台对津巴布韦人进行了非正式采访。该研究发现，政府（证券化行为者）为遏制冠状病毒而采取的措施与威胁程度不符，并指出政府所说的话与其行动之间存在明显差异。此外，COVID-19 措施的实施表明执政党寻求实现除保护公众（参照对象）之外的其他议程。