Zimbabwe: The beginning of the end

Hi Friends,

This is some political shit I wrote today. Please read to see if you stand with me.

Barely a day after former President, Robert Mugabe, left the track as Zimbabwe's number one, another has been inaugurated to take on the baton and continue where the former left off. And this person is no other than Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa, who erstwhile was the vice president and closest associate of Mugabe, was sworn in as president this Friday in grand style on the premises of the national sports stadium situated in the suburb of Harare. And yes, amidst the gaping stares of quite a number of fellow politicians, ambassadors, diplomats and sheer supporters.

Despite the stringent security measures taken, with snipers and guards all over, it was not too difficult to spot the excitement and relish on the faces of the avid patrons and partisans in support of Emmerson Mnangagwa's enthronement. While the loud music was blaring, Zimbabweans danced even as the stadium kept filling up to its 60,000 capacity measure.

But then, amidst all these fluid merriments, there still exists a frozen tension in the air, a sort of tense expectancy that can almost be taken to mean fear when flipped to the other side. This expectant-fear is mirrored in the statement of Tinashe Chakanetsa, "I am so happy that Mugabe is gone, 37 years under dictatorship is not a joke. I am hoping for a new Zimbabwe ruled by the people,"

The ascension of Emmerson Mnangagwa does not quite match up to Tinashe's requirement. And this is justifiably right for all the wrong reasons. For one Mnangagwa's prior close relation to Mugabe is one disturbing affiliation that threatens to put a dent in the current administration of the incumbent president. What this portends for the entire political runnings of the nation is the seemingly harmless influence and godfatherism of Mugabe on vital decision making. This is not to talk about how Mnangagwa being the vice president alongside the dictatorial Mugabe will likely adopt the same pattern of administration employed by his predecessor and himself. And of course, this will mean that the exigent change anticipated by the people of Zimbabwe might yet have to remain on the stalks.

And then, there is the forceful resignation which, in the first place, was what prompted the resignation of Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa's disapproval of Mugabe's decision to make his wife, Grace, succeed him and Mugabe's sharp dismissal of him only goes to show that these circle of power moguls are not in the least interested in the nation's state of affairs.They are rather more concerned with who or who should not run this affair. By implication, Mugabe and his cohorts were more interested in who was going to run the next lap of the race. Surely, it was quite farcical to think that Grace Mugabe, a woman with an obvious connection to the same one everyone wanted out would be the right one to step in line. But Mnangagwa, he sounded much like a better fit- he is the vice president, he has been acting president for a while and the people have nothing against him.

But then an adept look at the past life of Mnangagwa "the Crocodile", and somewhat, one is bound to agree that power has just shifted from the backyard to the doorpost. Mnangagwa, nicknamed the Crocodile, earned a renown repute as a ruthless Mugabe disciple who oversaw the tribal pogrom in the 1980s and 2008 when Mugabe ran the risk of losing the election.

Again, there is the really suspicious involvement of the British in Zimbabwe's recent political developments. This is shown by how British prime minister Theresa May hails Mugabe's exit saying that,

"The resignation of Robert Mugabe provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule. . . 'Zimbabwe's oldest friend' would do all it could to support the country . . . We want to see that country re-joining the international community."

Even prior to the inauguration, a British envoy came into the country just to witness the event and congratulate the new president. While some insist that Britain's renewed interest is a welcome development, others can't help but admit that, considering the circumstances, it is a worrisome situation. One such one is Gwede Mantanshe, the secretary general of African National Congress (ANC). In a vehement statement, he poured out his concern,

"Declaration by an ambassador of a western country to say 'now we'll help Zimbabwe'. Help Zimbabwe with what? Where was help all this time?"

Well, this rhetorical question says it all: Why has Britain, in her goodwill, decided to help Zimbabwe? Why now? Why not when the people were scouring for any form of support and help to save them from the clutches of Mugabe's dictatorship. This all too important question is not one that can be answered in a hurry. We all can only wait and see for ourselves.

Evidently, Mugabe might not be able to hang around for too long to see what will come of the "new and unfolding democracy" professed by his successor. And really, we cannot but also think that Mnangagwa will be too frail to sew enough thread into his acclaimed brand new, fabric of change. He is 75 and not exactly what we can call a new surge of deliverance. He would probably have to keep up with a lot of doctor's appointment and a whole lot more of drudgy cabinet meetings. And this will, inadvertently, leave him with little or no time to implement the needed urgent reforms in Zimbabwe.

Considering all these and more, it is not out of place to say that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a runner in a predilected relay race, a lackey to the British and an anti-Grace but yet another Mugabean. Indeed, Zimbabweans do really need to take it slow on the dancing, hold their horses, cross their fingers and only hope that, for them, this is not the beginning of the end.

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