Great Zimbabwe in the Shadow of Robert Mugabe and the ZANU-PF: An Analysis of the Political On-site Use of Great Zimbabwe during the Period 2000–2025

During Zimbabwe's economic downturn from 2000 to 2025, the Great Zimbabwe National Monument became a strategic site for political identity-building and nationalism under ZANU-PF rule. The monument was instrumental in reinforcing party hegemony and promoting the ideologies of leaders Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa, as revealed through four key on-site events analyzed using Critical Heritage Studies. This study highlights how cultural heritage was politicized to strengthen national identity amid economic challenges, offering insights into the intersection of politics, archaeology, and heritage in post-colonial contexts.

Andersson, A. (2024). Great Zimbabwe in the Shadow of Robert Mugabe and the ZANU-PF: An Analysis of the Political On-site Use of Great Zimbabwe during the Period 2000–2025. Public Archaeology, 23(1-4), 50–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/14655187.2025.2475622