The end has come for Mugabe

Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Impeachment proceedings for Zimbabwe’s embattled leader Robert Mugabe may not now be necessary after early but confused reports late last night saying he has agreed to stand down.

The end of Mr Mugabe and his graceless wife, Grace Mugabe, came quickly and unexpectedly. But Mr Mugabe, after giving every indication he would announce his resignation earlier in the day yesterday, bumbled and mumbled  his way through a television broadcast. At the end, viewers could hear muffled comments alluding to lost pages, suggesting the 93-year-old had either lost some pages, forgot to mention his resignation or — more likely — just carried on wanting to stay.

Fortunately, reports now indicate Mr Mugabe has agreed to go, averting a potentially difficult and dangerous situation, although the BBC said late last night he had not yet tendered his resignation. Up until now, his two sons, known for their lavish lifestyle, have been on social media asking Zimbabweans not to throw out a revolutionary leader. Zimbabwe was once a resource rich country with the potential to become one of sub-Saharan Africa’s best economic performers.

Now, it is the region’s basket case, mainly because of Mr Mugabe’s greed and the greed of those around him. The people are poor and starving but Mr Mugabe is thought to be worth about $1billion. His wife, also known as Gucci Grace, because of her expensive shopping habits, has money stashed in Asia.

Zimbabwe is in crisis and has been for most of the 37 years Mr Mugabe has ruled. It will continue so without a resignation. It still defies belief he has been able to survive for so long.The queues of people waiting to withdraw precious dollars from ATMs hours after the army’s intervention last week are just the latest example of a need for hard currency, reflecting years of grinding economic difficulties.

Mr Mugabe has been widely expected to eventually resign. However, the hundreds of thousands of people who gathered in streets and bars to witness the historic television speech were left angered and suspicious.

Zimbabwe Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was baffled by the address to the nation, saying Mr Mugabe was playing a game. CNN last night reported that, under the terms of a possible resignation deal, the Mugabes would be granted full immunity from any prosecution.

Emmerson Mnangaway, whose ousting from his vice-president post nearly two weeks ago led to the military seizing power, has been elected the Zanu-PF party’s new leader. Zanu-PF members earlier unanimously sacked Mr Mugabe as the leader.

While the Mugabes have brought Zimbabwe to its knees, Mr Mnangaway needs to be viewed carefully. The former state security chief is known as ‘‘The Crocodile’’, earning his reptilian nickname after leading a group of fighters called the Crocodile Gang during the country’s war of independence.

He was sentenced to death for blowing up trains in the 1960s but was not executed because of his age. Mr Mnangaway had been a supporter of Mr Mugabe until Mrs Mugabe fired him. Without the intervention, Mrs Mugabe was likely to succeed her husband. Now, Mr Mnangaway is back, hopefully with good intentions.

Some issues will now need to be sorted out. Mr Mugabe will want to use the power he has left to try to preserve his legacy as one of Africa’s liberation leaders. He will want to ensure his family is protected from possible prosecution or worse. There needs to be certainty about where he and his family will live. Living and being guarded in Zimbabwe does not seem a viable option. Having the Mugabes walk away with their fortune is not palatable.

On the street, the people are talking about a second liberation for the former British colony.

Whether Mr Mnangaway can take power without further military intervention will now be tested. The world will want a smooth transition, a Zimbabwe with a secure economic and social future.

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