Zim has chance of a real rebirth

WE HAVE been treated to amazing scenes emerging from Zimbabwe, and in particular the capital Harare, over the past few days.

The joy of ordinary Zimbabweans at the news that Robert Mugabe, who was once the revered father of their liberated nation but became an immovable dictator, had resigned was both heartfelt and contagious.

There are not many people, either here on our continent or abroad, who could have foretold the political demise of the man who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron grip for 37 years. But then again there are not many who foresaw the downfall of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi six years ago or the Arab Spring which led to regime change in northern Africa.

Mugabe, on the other hand, was given the chance to resign on the back of incredible popular opposition to his continued tenure, orchestrated first by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and subsequently in tandem with the governing Zanu-PF. Mugabe has immunity from prosecution for any crimes he might have committed in office, and he will be allowed to retain his considerable assets.

The fact remains though that, after the euphoria subsides, the new president will in all likelihood be the man Mugabe tried to thwart as his deputy, in favour of anointing his wife Grace.

Emmerson Mnangagwa is known as “The Crocodile” – mostly because of his ruthless support for Mugabe at almost every step of his ruinous, almost four-decade-long period at the helm of Zimbabwe’s descent from the bread basket of southern Africa to basket case.

But there is also the opportunity for a real rebirth as the world opens its arms, hearts and wallets to the possibility of bankrolling a third and final, sustainable, chimurenga.

The road ahead will not be easy. There will be many dawns, many false starts, if Zimbabwe is to achieve the potential it promised so brightly on April 18, 1980 when it gained independence. It may fail, but we certainly hope it does not, but rather that it rises from the ashes.