Mugabe keeping wealth in Zimbabwe
HARARE • Robert Mugabe and his family are set to remain in Zimbabwe under a deal with the ruling party that will see them retreat from politics in exchange for secure retirement, according to diplomatic and political sources in Harare.
Mugabe, 93, resigned on Tuesday following a military coup and an outpouring of public anger at economic mismanagement, corruption and political violence during nearly four decades under his rule.
During celebrations in Harare Tuesday, one man said he would like to see the former president “in leg irons.” But in a possible indication of plans to rehabilitate the ousted president, posters were put up in Harare on Wednesday with the slogan “let Mugabe rest now.”
Mugabe and his family may also be allowed to retain control of their assets, including the “Blue Roof,” the vast luxury Harare mansion where Mugabe and Grace Mugabe, the former first lady, spent the past week under house arrest.
It is unclear whether there would be any investigation into how Grace Mugabe amassed her vast wealth believed to include the largest land and real estate portfolio owned by anyone in Zimbabwean history.
Welshman Ncube, an opposition leader said: “Given the vitriol and hatred towards Grace Mugabe, I suspect she will move in and out but spend more time out of Zimbabwe.”
Other allies of the Mugabes have already fled the country, including Phelekezela Mphoko, Zimbabwe’s second vice president; Savior Kasukuwere, local government minister; and Jonathan Moyo, an education minister. Meanwhile, the former vice president who will succeed Mugabe has pledged to rebuild the country’s economy.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, who fled Zimbabwe two weeks ago amid a bitter power struggle inside the ruling party Zanu-PF, landed at Harare’s Manyame Air Base Wednesday afternoon.
“I appeal to all genuine people of Zimbabwe to come together,” Mnangagwa told supporters at the Harare headquarters of Zanu-PF. “We are all Zimbabweans ... we need peace in our country and jobs, jobs, jobs.”
“He is now the former president of Zimbabwe,” he said of Mugabe, to loud cheers.
Mnangagwa praised the military, the speaker of parliament, and other party leaders for their support and said he had been in “constant contact” with the generals throughout the coup.
The 75-year-old fled to Mozambique and then South Africa after Mugabe fired him Nov. 6. The move prompted Mnangagwa’s army allies to mount a coup to force Mugabe to step down and arrest allies of Grace Mugabe, who was making her own bid for power.
Mnangagwa was elected head of Zanu-PF on Saturday and will be sworn in as the party’s choice to complete Mugabe’s term as president on Friday.