Take heed of the lessons of past

SCENES of jubilation across Zimbabwe on Tuesday following Robert Mugabe’s resignation as president indeed marked a monumental historic moment for the Southern African country.

In 37 years Mugabe evolved from a hero of his people’s liberation to a loathed and feared dictator who drove millions out of their beloved country and pushed its economy into ruin.

In the past week the tables turned.

His power grip loosened, hammered by a somewhat sophisticated military takeover and an uprising that dislodged him from his party’s political throne and then toppled him as the world’s oldest statesman.

Indeed, Zimbabweans begin a new journey.

Yet in the midst of euphoria, many are mindful that this victory is bitter-sweet.

The road ahead will be a long and difficult one.

As one citizen remarked this week, Mugabe was a system.

His devastating rule in the latter years of his presidency was enabled by an equally rogue network of lieutenants who carried out the most gruesome human rights violations against fellow Zimbabweans.

Topping that list was Mugabe’s ally-turned-rival, Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man who is gearing to take charge of the country from tomorrow.

Nicknamed The Crocodile, it is not unreasonable to say that Mnangagwa is no democrat.

In fact, many say he is a younger and more ambitious version of Mugabe.

As a central figure in the ethnic wars that ravaged the country, Mnangagwa’s detractors believe he has blood on his hands.

They question whether he is indeed the man to lead Zimbabwe on a new democratic path to rebuild its nation. Time will tell. What we know for sure is that the nation is at a crossroads.

Its choices from hereon could either set it further down a trail of destruction and mayhem.

Or Zimbabwe could take heed of the painful lessons from the last three decades to turn its fortunes.

Either way, at the centre of it all should be the will of its people.

From the ashes of Mugabe’s legacy, may they rise!