ABSTRACT
This chapter posits that as a national liberation movement, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) under President Mugabe was expected to deliver democracy, good governance, human security, social peace, human rights, human development, social cohesion and social justice after ascending to state power as part of the resolution of the national question that provoked the liberation struggle. It articulates a theoretical framework to enable a deeper understanding of the postcolonial performance of ZANU-PF as well as facilitating scientific explanation of what, fundamentally, went wrong in Zimbabwe. The theoretical framework is grounded in understanding the conception, constitution and configuration of 'the political' and concomitant political practice. The chapter assesses the performance of ZANU-PF as governing party. It underscores the fact that the fundamental problem facing Zimbabwe is that of the constitution of 'the political' in terms of the 'will to power', thereby producing political practices that privilege struggles for state power rather than service to the people.
