All eyes on military now in Zimbabwe

The gloom in Zimbabwe is spreading as the country slides deeper into political and economic chaos. News that the military has eased out veteran President Robert Mugabe to take over the reins of power and control the streets came as a shock on Wednesday. What the army will do next remains anybody’s guess. Mugabe ruled the country with guile for four decades and the results have been disappointing for a majority of the population still steeped in poverty. Power was centered in the presidency and cronyism and corruption was rife. The opposition was swept aside and foes went missing. Far from being a statesman, Robert Mugabe was a strongman who merely used elections as a ruse to cling to power. He was corrupted by it, and at 93 finds himself a victim of his excesses.

In his tryst with power which captivated him, scarce little was done for the masses. The country’s economy is in shambles with high rates of joblessness and inflation. Zimbabwe doesn’t even have a functioning currency in circulation. The ruling party’s tentacles are spread in every sector. Now that the military is in charge, there is a growing fear about the future of the country. How worse can it get? Will the army uphold democratic norms and hold free and fair elections?

The country is rich in resources, has a literate population, and a strong diaspora in the UK and South Africa who want to return to rebuild it. Democracy without the Mugabes would be in Zimbabwe’s interests. All eyes are now on the military.