Zimbabwe’s social and political life, economy and foreign relations may stabilize and bounce back to international reckoning, if its new leaders design ambitious agenda to consign the politics of upheaval that characterized former president Mugabe’s 37 years rule to history. Zimbabwe would need a post Mugabe reconstruction.
Former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75, returns from forced exile, Friday, November 4, to be sown in to lead the government in Zimbabwe, after Mugabe’s forced resignation, Tuesday, according to Parliamentary Speaker, Jacob Mudenda. He will complete what is left of Mugabe’s tenure before the elections scheduled for September 2018.
The ruling ZANU-PF party, nominated Mnangagwa to fill the vacancy left by Mugabe. Mnangagwa issued a statement, Tuesday, and called on Zimbabweans to unite to rebuild the country. His statement is seen as beginning a new era for the country dominated by authoritarian Robert Mugabe.
Mnangagwa’s words: “My desire is to join all Zimbabweans in a new era, where corruption, incompetence, dereliction of duty and laziness, social and cultural decadence is not tolerated. In that new Zimbabwe, it is important for everyone to join hands so that we rebuild this nation to its full glory. This is not a job for ZANU-PF alone but for all people of Zimbabwe.”
Mnangagwa’s hands will be full as he takes over leadership of the country. He will be inundated with the task of restoring the country’s fortunes. Due to alleged human rights abuses, manipulation of electoral process and persecution of opponents against Robert Mugabe, western countries imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe early in the year 2000. Zimbabwe’s economy has been adversely damage by the sanctions.
According to report, many Zimbabweans seem distant from Mnangagwa leading the government in Zimbabwe. He has been a strong and trusted aid to Mugabe. He was always on Mugabe’s side in prison, during wartime and in government, especially since 2014 when he became vice-president. The concern is whether he will be a democrat, having been a close associate of authoritarian Robert Mugabe.
Analysts believe Mnangagwa has the credentials to provide strong leadership and be able to stabilize the polity in Zimbabwe. He is expected to move the economy of the country upwards from the clutches of western countries imposed sanctions since early year 2000, elevate the population of 16 million people from poverty, drop high unemployment, and organize credible elections in 2018.
The United State of America and Britain wants Zimbabwe to rejoin the international community following the resignation of Robert Mugabe. British Prime Minister Theresa May said, Wednesday: “We want to see that country rejoining the international community.”
After about two weeks of uncertainty in Zimbabwe, following military intervention on the affairs of the country, occasioned by former president Robert Mugabe’s sacking of his vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa from office and expelling him from the ruling ZANU-PF party, Zimbabwe’s political life is once again taking shape.
Zimbabwe’s military did not hesitate to react to Mugabe’s actions, which was seen as paving way for his wife Grace Mugabe to become his successor. The army warned it would not tolerate Mugabe’s excesses; and swiftly staged an innovative military coup.
The ruling ZANU-PF backed the military action. ZANU-PF swiftly followed party and parliamentary rules and removed Mugabe as the party’s leader and suspended him from the party.
That marked the beginning of an ignominious end of an era for Robert Mugabe — going down prominence from elevated office of president of Zimbabwe, a country he ruled for 37 years, and at the age of 93, to be forced to resign, Tuesday, November 21, 2017.
