The Zimbabwean Entrapment: An Analysis of the Nexus between Domestic and Foreign Policies in a “Collapsing” Militant State, 1990s-2006.

Soon after independence in 1980 Harare quickly became Southern Africa’s diplomatic hub and a key player in the Frontline States` efforts to dismantle apartheid and colonialism in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe adopted a policy of non-alignment in international affairs and its foreign policy trajectory was governed by sanctity of the right to life, self-determination, defense of national sovereignty, anti-imperialism, equality of sovereign states, and non-inteference in the internal affairs of other states1. Zimbabwe adhered to the positions of the Southern African Development Community2, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and the Commonwealth. In 1983/4 and 1991/2 Zimbabwe assumed one of the nonpermanent seats in the United Nations Security Council. Assumption of these positions gave it significant skills in international affairs.