Britain Zimbabwe Society’s Annual Research Day 2012 ‘Zimbabwe and the Region’

The Britain Zimbabwe Society’s annual research day will be held on the 16th June at St. Antony’s College, Oxford (corner of Woodstock/Bevington Road, North Oxford, OX2 6JF).

This year participants will explore the historical and contemporary connections between Zimbabwe and her neighbours. The southern African region, broadly conceived, has a rich and inter-connected history of social, cultural and political movements which transcend national boundaries. During the pre-colonial era, polities and territorial cults cut across areas of land later divided by colonial borders. Colonialism also opened up areas of southern Africa to a greater degree of demographic mobility, producing a rich cultural and political heritage. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the various liberation struggles of southern Africa were closely connected through the formation of governments in exile, expressions of solidarity between nationalist/revolutionary parties, and the establishment of military training camps and bases across borders. Since independence many of these histories have been overshadowed by new political concerns with national security, immigration, and citizenship rights. Still, families, religious groups, economic and political networks continue to stretch across and beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. More recently, as events in Zimbabwe have impacted on the wider region, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has come to play a key role in negotiations to resolve the political impasse.

We are pleased to announce our keynote speakers this year will be Professor Jack Spence, OBE (King’s College London) and Professor Welshman Ncube (Zimbabwe Minister for Commerce and Trade - tbc).

Other speakers include: Timothy Scarnecchia; Joseph Mujere; Francis Musoni; Maxim Bolt; Blessing-Miles Tendi; Andrew Mutandwa; Jocelyn Alexander; Hugh Macmillan; JoAnn McGregor; Tinashe Nyamunda and Ushehwedu Kufakurinani.

Publishers Zed Books (Africa Now, African Arguments and Africa in the New Millennium Series) and James Currey will be selling a selection of their books throughout the day and the event will conclude with a book launch and drinks reception.
Registration fees (for attendance only): £30 standard; £20 BZS members; £15 students and unwaged. To register in advance please contact Marieke Clarke: mariekefclarke@pop3.poptel.org.uk

Registration and payments can be made on the day. Unfortunately, the BZS cannot accept credit or debit card payments.