Zimbabwe-South Africa Relations: An Analysis of Divergence and Convergence, 1994-20001.

The article analyzes Zimbabwe–South Africa relations from 1994 to 2000, focusing on periods of both convergence and divergence shaped by national interests, ideological differences, and regional power dynamics. Despite shared anti-colonial histories and liberation struggles involving Zimbabwe’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), the two parties had limited historical ties and often competed for regional leadership. Key issues examined include differing responses to the Nigerian political crisis, disputes over the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (OPDS), and contrasting approaches to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) conflict, where Zimbabwe pursued military intervention while South Africa favored diplomacy. The study employs the “Thucydides trap” framework to interpret tensions arising from South Africa’s rise as a regional power challenging Zimbabwe’s hegemonic claims, highlighting how these dynamics influenced their foreign policies and regional security cooperation during the post-apartheid era.