31. Populism in Southern Africa Under Liberation Movements as Governments: The Cases of Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Liberation movements in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa share a common trajectory: engaged in long also armed resistance to settler-colonial and white minority role, they finally seized legitimate political power in their countries. As parties they have remained in government since then. The heroic narrative and patriotic history have—despite different nuances—constituted core messages to the official discourses established since then. Jointly with the “big men syndrome” of struggle veterans entitled to rule, these have been part of populist justifications to remain in political control over the independent countries. This chapter presents an overview of the governance of the former liberation movements ZANU-PF, SWAPO and ANC. It also points to the role of individual leaders of the struggle generations such as Robert Mugabe, Sam Nujoma and Jacob Zuma as personified populist claims to individual rule.