With reference to the political history of Zimbabwe after 1980, consider the following: 1. The country was ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle. 2. Robert Mugabe ruled the country democratically without amending the constitution. 3. Public protests against the government were declared illegal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct option is (c). Explanation Zimbabwe attained independence from White minority rule in 1980. Since then, the political landscape has been dominated by the party that led the liberation movement, though the nature of governance evolved into an authoritarian regime over time. - Statement 1 is Correct: Since attaining independence in 1980, the country has been ruled by ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front), the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader, Robert Mugabe, remained the dominant political figure for nearly four decades. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 until 2017. Although elections were held regularly, they were often marred by unfair practices. Furthermore, his government amended the Constitution multiple times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable, rather than ruling democratically without amendments. - Statement 3 is Correct: Under Mugabe's regime, opposition party workers were harassed and their meetings disrupted. Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal. Laws were established to limit the right to criticize the President, and the media was heavily controlled to favor the ruling party. Key Takeaway: Popular approval in elections is not a sufficient guarantee of democracy; governments can become undemocratic and authoritarian by amending constitutions to consolidate power and suppressing civil liberties, as seen in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe.

With reference to the political… - NCERT Class 9 Political Science MCQ

NCERT Class 9 Political Science — Chapter 1: What is democracy?

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With reference to the political history of Zimbabwe after 1980, consider the following:

The country was ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle.
Robert Mugabe ruled the country democratically without amending the constitution.
Public protests against the government were declared illegal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Political Science: Democratic Politics Part – I · Page 7

Options

A1 and 2 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (c).

Explanation

Zimbabwe attained independence from White minority rule in 1980. Since then, the political landscape has been dominated by the party that led the liberation movement, though the nature of governance evolved into an authoritarian regime over time.

Statement 1 is Correct: Since attaining independence in 1980, the country has been ruled by ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front), the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader, Robert Mugabe, remained the dominant political figure for nearly four decades.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 until 2017. Although elections were held regularly, they were often marred by unfair practices. Furthermore, his government amended the Constitution multiple times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable, rather than ruling democratically without amendments.
Statement 3 is Correct: Under Mugabe's regime, opposition party workers were harassed and their meetings disrupted. Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal. Laws were established to limit the right to criticize the President, and the media was heavily controlled to favor the ruling party.

Key Takeaway: Popular approval in elections is not a sufficient guarantee of democracy; governments can become undemocratic and authoritarian by amending constitutions to consolidate power and suppressing civil liberties, as seen in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe.

Your note

More from Chapter 1: What is democracy?

Consider the following statements regarding Representative Democracy: 1. It is the most common form of democracy in the modern world. 2. It is designed specifically for small communities where direct interaction is possible. 3. It allows every citizen to directly participate in every decision-making process. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the evaluation of democratic systems, treating democracy as an ideal benchmark suggests that:

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The principle of "One person, one vote, one value" is derived from which fundamental political concept?

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In democratic systems, effective and informed decision-making is largely achieved through which of the following practices?

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Which one of the following is often cited as a potential drawback of electoral competition in a democracy?

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