A brighter future is not guaranteed
Libya still in chaos after Gaddafi era
Robert Mugabe may be gone, but a bright future isn’t always guaranteed for long-suffering citizens of the southern African country.
Mugabe joins a long list of unpopular African leaders who were pushed out of office following turbulent decades in power. Many African dictators were either assassinated in coups while others escaped and went into exile.
In some instances, there was no happy ending following the end of their tenures. Take for example Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, who was captured and killed in 2011 after people rose against his rule. Libya has since descended into chaos.
Ugandan dictator Idi Amin escaped in 1979 following a revolt against his rule after eight years in power. He sought refuge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and died in 2003.
As Zimbabweans erupted into celebrations, political experts have, however, warned that under Emmerson Mnangagwa, not much was expected to change.
Wits School of Governance’s Professor Susan Booysen said: “The same government policies will continue in Zimbabwe, this is still Zanu-PF.”
Political analyst Shadrack Gutto was, however, more positive of what will happen.
“Zimbabwe is going to rise again soon under a new climate ... there’s great potential for change,” Gutto said.
He said the people of Zimbabwe were more united now as the fall of Mugabe was brought about by multiparty efforts that also involved the military, which means whoever takes over would have to tread more carefully. Zimbabwe’s new leader Emmerson Mnangagwa told a cheering crowd in Harare yesterday that the country was entering a new stage of democracy following Robert Mugabe’s removal as president after nearly four decades in power.
Mnangagwa returned to the country earlier in the day, having fled for his safety when the 93-year-old former leader sacked him as vice-president two weeks ago to smooth a path to the succession for his much younger wife Grace.
“The people have spoken. The voice of the people is the voice of God,” Mnangagwa told thousands of supporters gathered outside the ruling Zanu-PF party’s offices in the capital.
“Today we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy.”
Zimbabwe was once one of Africa’s most promising economies but suffered decades of decline as Mugabe pursued policies that included the violent seizure of whiteowned commercial farms and money-printing that led to hyperinflation.
Most of its 16 million people remain poor and face currency shortages and sky-high unemployment, something Mnangagwa promised to address.
“We want to grow our economy, we want peace in our country, we want jobs, jobs, jobs. The will of the people will always, always succeed,” he said.
Mnangagwa’s dismissal was the trigger for the army and former political allies to move against Mugabe.
He resigned as president on Tuesday as parliament began an impeachment process, after resisting pressure to do so for a week.
Parliamentary speaker Jacob Mudenda said yesterday that Mnangagwa would be sworn in as president tomorrow.
The army appears to have engineered a trouble-free path to power for Mnangagwa, who was for decades a faithful lieutenant of Mugabe and member of his elite.
He was also in charge of internal security when rights groups say 20 000 civilians were killed in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, SA’a ruling party, the ANC, has lauded the Zimbabwean military for their “peaceful” handling of the situation to ensure a “smooth transition” in the wake of Mugabe’s resignation.
“Our view is that the fact that there was no obvious loss of life and damage to property‚ it was a peaceful process and to us it’s quite reassuring.
“We are hoping that our comrades in Zimbabwe will rebuild Zimbabwe to its former self‚” said ANC secretarygeneral Gwede Mantashe.
Asked if the ANC had any prior knowledge that Mugabe would be recalled‚ Mantashe unreservedly denied this and said the party was taken aback just like the rest of the world. of oppression, corruption and discrimination.”
Collins Moyo, 34, who had been living in South Africa for 10 years, was also happy to be going back home: “Things are not OK over there my brother, there is nothing there. Our families are hungry.
“Going back home is always a painful experience, but today I’m happy I’m going home to a Zimbabwe without Mugabe.”
Former soldier in the Zimbabwean army Sazini Sayi, 42, now works at a bus terminal in Newtown, said he hoped Zimbabwe’s former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa would change things.
“I don’t know if Emmerson (Mnangagwa) will bring change but we have to try another hand, any hand, as long as Mugabe is out of power,” he said.
Anthony Masiyadima, 26, agreed: “My only wish is that whoever is going to be president [should] take us as human beings. I will stay in South Africa until I see a positive change in Zimbabwe.”