Elections will determine way ahead
New leadership in Zimbabwe
THE fall of Africa’s second longest serving president, Robert Mugabe, was greatly significant for the people of Zimbabwe.
Indeed, it’s a “victory” worthy of being celebrated.
Regardless of how Africans are treated by their leaders (who are labelled dictators), our continent’s issues must be resolved by Africans.
For now the Zimbabweans are celebrating this victory.
What’s going to happen now? Where to now?
To call for your liberator to step down is something which, in my analysis, is a sign of democracy.
The most important issue now is how the incoming leadership sets to take Zimbabwe forward, not backward.
We only hope that Zimbabweans will be able to exercise their democratic right – to vote without fear or favour.
With Mugabe out of the picture, the “victory” is celebrated by Zimbabweans and by the West.
People of Zimbabwe stand to reclaim their own country now.
But what we should warn them is that they should not succumb to Western culture as their former president refused to allow the West to interfere in the affairs of Zimbabwe.
The Zanu-PF party now has a huge task ahead of next year’s general elections that will determine the future of the country. There is nothing wrong with foreign investments for the development of Zimbabwe, but not at the expense of the country – as we witnessed in some African states, whereby a country is sold to the highest bidder.
For far too long, Zimbabweans have suffered.
Now that the tables have turned, I hope that the incoming leadership will create a harmonious state and create investment opportunities.
It might be a victory now, but there’s more that needs to be done to sustain the country and restore people’s confidence.
Zimbabweans now have the opportunity of electing their own leaders.
The electoral system of Zimbabwe needs to be reviewed.
The country now should hold free and fair elections, and those who wish to contest them should do so.
The issue in Zimbabwe does not only affect Zimbabweans, but the rest of the African continent.
We would remember that many Zimbabweans left Zimbabwe for neighbouring states.
Each African state might have its own sovereignty, but due to the history of our continent, there’s no single state in Africa which could function in its day-to-day business without the assistance of other African states.
The West is doing everything in its power to divide our motherland, Africa.
The people of Zimbabwe, during these transitional times, need the guidance from the rest of the African states.
New president Emmerson Mnangagwa said, “My desire is to join all Zimbabweans in a new era. In that new Zimbabwe it is important for everyone to join hands so that we rebuild this nation to its full glory, this is not a job for Zanu-PF alone but for all the people of Zimbabwe.”
One of the ways to build a united Zimbabwe is for the ruling party to form a united government with all the opposition parties.
We remember that during Mugabe’s tenure people wanted a democratic Zimbabwe, now is their time to ensure that and to safeguard the future of Zimbabwe.
Zamuxolo Nduna, masters’ degree candidate in comparative education, Teachers College, Zhejiang Normal University, China