Responding to the Zimbabwe Crisis: Examining the Role of Preventive Diplomacy in Multi-Track Approaches toward Zimbabwe, 2000–2009.

Considering the prolonged delays in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and the uncertainty surrounding the date of its next elections, Zimbabwe continues to be an important topic of conversation and debate in the southern African region. Contemporary analysis has primarily focused on official state and regional intergovernmental responses to Zimbabwe over the past decade. In contrast, this article highlights the important steps taken by various other nonstate actors to prevent conflict and solve the political crisis. Based on the theories of preventive diplomacy and multi-track diplomacy presented by Michael Lund and Kumar Rupesinghe, respectively, this article examines the significant contributions made by the United Nations, citizen groups in the form of civil society organizations (CSOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), religious groups, civil society both within and outside Zimbabwe, and financial institutions during 2000 and 2009. After reflecting on the preventive diplomacy efforts of multi-track actors regarding the conflict in Zimbabwe, the article concludes that not only has multi-track diplomacy impacted governmental and regional policy, but, combined with other efforts, it has also resulted in the signing of the GPA. This examination of multi-track diplomacy contributes to a more complete and accurate depiction of preventive diplomacy responses to the Zimbabwe conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]