Mugabe gone at last
FINALLY. Finally. After 37 years of an iron grip, Robert Mugabe is history. The Zimbabwean dictator finally relented yesterday while parliament was in the middle of a debate on a motion to impeach him, led by both Zanu-PF, his own party, and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Speaker Jacob Mudenda read out Mugabe’s resignation at a joint seating of the two Houses at the Harare International Conference Centre, thrusting Zimbabwe into wild celebrations as citizens took to the streets to celebrate freedom from the yoke of tyranny.
The world joined in the celebrations too, because the story of Zimbabwe has become the story of the world; the story of a promising country run to the ground by a former liberation icon who became an oppressor. It is no wonder then that British Prime Minister Theresa May was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Zimbabweans for ending the Mugabe era, and promised the former colonial ruler would do everything in its power to help rebuild Zimbabwe.
Mugabe resigned as presidents Jacob Zuma and João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola were set to arrive in Harare today to assess the political situation, and as his nemesis, Emmerson Mnangagwa, rejected Mugabe’s olive leaf and demanded that he resign or face impeachment.
Many Zimbabweans, including Pastor Evan Mawarire, wept openly as news filtered of the most hated man in Zimbabwe having finally been put to the sword by his own comrades. For many years, toothless organisations like the SADC and the African Union have said Zimbabweans must solve their own problems, and allowed Mugabe to run amok, looting Zimbabwe and unleashing a reign of terror on the people, with many opposition supporters attacked and killed each election.
But after years of stealing elections, under these continental bodies’ watch, Zimbabweans yesterday took matters into their own hands and showed Mugabe the back door. Cornered by the army, Zanu-PF, the opposition and the people of Zimbabwe, Mugabe did what he was supposed to have done years ago – he resigned.
His disgraceful exit marks the beginning of a new era for one of Africa’s most loved countries. We hope that whoever takes over will put Zimbabwe on a path of reconciliation and prosperity where all Zimbabweans, regardless of political affiliation, colour or race, will work together to rebuild their country, which Mugabe sought to make his own.
Zimbabweans have suffered for too long. Many youths have not known any other president than Mugabe, while the rest of the region has seen new leaders come to the fore through free and fair democratic elections, which the nonagenarian denied his own people. But nothing lasts forever.
Today, we are all Zimbabweans. Today, Zimbabwe wakes up a better place than it was yesterday.
The people are free. Finally. Finally.