MUGABE KICKED OUT
However, some fear Zimbabwe might merely swop one army-backed autocrat for another
IN A KEENLY awaited broadcast televised live across the world last night, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe stopped short of resigning. Before the address, the plan to remove Mugabe from the presidency appeared on the verge of succeeding just hours after he was sacked as leader of the ruling Zanu-PF.
Mugabe was yesterday given until midday today to resign, failing which the party he had led for almost four decades will get the ball rolling to impeach him.
A day after massive crowds marched peacefully in Harare and Bulawayo in favour of the 93-year-old Mugabe going, 201 of the 300 members of Zanu-PF’s Central Committee fired Mugabe and expelled his key allies, including his wife, Grace, from the party.
The special central committee special session held at the party’s headquarters in the capital was a brutal clean-out of close to 20 trusted Mugabe lieutenants, headed by the ageing Zimbabwe leader’s master strategist Professor Jonathan Moyo, Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and jailed Finance Minister Ignatious Chombo.
Not spared in the mass purge was Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao, Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi and Minister of Sport Makhosini Hlongwane – all believed to be in hiding in South Africa since the army took control of the government last week.
It is this development that heightened speculation that Mugabe might finally resign.
Senior party leader Patrick Chinamasa announced the resolution to recall Mugabe as president and revealed the firing of what he termed the “criminal cabal” to wild applause from the committee members. He further gave the cornered Zimbabwe leader until noon today to resign as president of the country or risk facing impeachment.
“The central committee special session has passed the resolution to recall Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe as party first secretary and he must forthwith resign tomorrow by midday as Zimbabwean President. Failure to do so will result in the Zanu-PF chief whip instituting proceedings to have him removed through a parliamentary process,” said Chinamasa.
Using Parliament was the second part of the two-pronged plan to end Mugabe’s 37 years of rule.
Zanu-PF legislator Joseph Tshuma, who was part of yesterday’s meeting, boasted that the strategy was going according to plan.
“There is absolutely no room for him to manoeuvre. He has no access to his office if ever he was thinking of dissolving Parliament to stop the impeachment process. Remember he is confined to his house,” said Tshuma.
As the end for Mugabe came into sight, his former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa’s path to replace him was cleared. The central committee did not only reverse his dismissal but also appointed him interim party leader until the December congress when he is expected to be unanimously elected.
“The unconstitutional removal of Emmerson Mnangagwa from the party is hereby nullified. We have also named him the Zanu-PF presidential candidate for next year’s national elections,” said Chinamasa.
Trouble began for Mugabe when he unceremoniously fired Mnangagwa two weeks ago. Senior Zanu PF official Obert Mpofu who chaired yesterday’s meeting and referred to Mugabe as the “outgoing president” said although the embattled leader had not been expelled from the party like his wife, it was sad to see him end his rule in such a manner.
“It is really a sad day he has to depart in such a manner. He was surrounded by known spies. In the last five years his wife and her close associates have taken advantage of his old age,” he said.
Mpofu said the people of Zimbabwe have spoken and a new era has begun for the country.
“Mugabe’s departure was unthinkable just a week ago. God has a way,” said Mpofu.
Despite the euphoria, some Mugabe opponents are uneasy about the prominent role played by the military, and fear Zimbabwe might be swopping one army-backed autocrat for another, rather than allowing the people to choose their next leader.
“The real danger of the current situation is that having got their new preferred candidate into State House, the military will want to keep him or her there, no matter what the electorate wills,” former education minister David Coltart said.
The US, a long-time Mugabe critic, said it was looking forward to a new era in Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, President Ian Khama of neighbouring Botswana said Mugabe had no diplomatic support in the region and should resign at once. Besides changing its leadership, Zanu-PF said it wanted to change the constitution to reduce the power of the president, a possible sign of its desire to move towards a more pluralistic and inclusive political system.
However, Mnangagwa’s history suggested that quick, sweeping change was unlikely.
THIS week’s events in Zimbabwe have stunned the world in a profound manner. A National Transitional Council is the best way forward, established through a transparent process of nationwide consultations, mandated with fulfilling a list of clear-cut national goals and objectives.
The first goal is to ensure safety and security for all the people who live in Zimbabwe. Without safety and security, the country could degenerate into a lawless jungle.
The second goal would be to ensure justice for all. Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy – at least on paper – and must be seen to be living up to the ideals of constitutionalism. Revenge, an eye for an eye and taking the law into one’s hands will not bring peace to this country but will usher in untold strife and suffering.
The third objective would be the revival of the economy. Companies are collapsing, unemployment is skyrocketing, poverty is endemic, service delivery has gone to the dogs and cash shortages are not showing signs of abating. Long-suffering Zimbabweans deserve a fresh start. In the absence of economic growth and development, the danger of civil strife is a constant menace.
The fourth objective would be to ensure that the country eventually holds free, fair and credible elections. For far too long the Zanu-PF government has robbed the masses at the ballot box.
Some major opposition political parties yesterday called for the formation of a transitional government. Fair and fine, but who exactly should constitute such an administration?
It is our considered opinion that none of the warring sides should be in the transitional authority. In other words, the military commanders should not be part of it. The domination of political parties in the transitional council has to be thoroughly scrutinised; the last headache a fragile nation needs is a polarised and politically poisoned atmosphere. All these players are interested parties.
Besides, Zimbabwe does not need a latter-day Government of National Unity. Most importantly, Zimbabweans, in their diversity, must take ownership of the transitional government. The days of hero-worshipping leaders are long gone.