The Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who was placed under house arrest by the military on November 15, was at the helm of affairs for past 37 years as he assumed power right after the country gained independence in 1980. Mugabe was dethroned from power when the military took control over the capital.
The fall of Mugabe is largely attributed to country’s former Vice¬-president Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa was elected as the new leader of Zimbabwe’s ruling political party.
While the four-decade-long regime of Mugabe was no less than a tyranny for the people of Zimbabwe, the rise of “Crocodile” (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is also doubted whether he would be a panacea to the people or not.
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The downfall of Mugabe started when he fired Mnangagwa from the post of Vice-president on November 6. Mnangagwa was also the close ally of the Zimbabwean military. Mugabe then tried to arrest the nation’s top military commander a few days later.
Mugabe’s move to fire Mnangagwa and attempt to arrest top military commander did not go down well with the war veterans’ association.
War veterans’ association said that Mugabe has crossed the red line and they cannot allow it to continue.
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Fearing arrest, Mnangagwa left the country and moved to Mozambique (the place where he had strong military ties). He then moved to South Africa. Christopher Mutsvangwa, the head of the war veterans’ association and one of Mnangagwa’s closest allies also moved to South Africa.
Mutsvangwa indicated about a possible military intervention in Zimbabwe. He also urged South African intelligence officers not to describe the military intervention as coup. And, the authorities in South Africa obliged as they did not mention the word “coup” in its official statement after the military intervention occurred on Wednesday.
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Mugabe also tried to arrest Zimbabwe’s longtime top military commander General Constantino Chiwenga. General Chiwenga, who was on official tour to China, was tipped that he may be arrested when he will touch Zimbabwe.
The police was directed to arrest him when his plane was expected to touch the country November 12. But, the soldiers, who were loyal to Chiwenga, infiltrated the airport as baggage handlers and took control of the airport as Chiwenga arrived in Zimbabwe. In next couple of days, tanks started to rumble the streets of Zimbabwe and took control of the country.
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Mugabe was placed under house arrest on November 15 after the military seized power of the country in overnight operation. With that, a tyrant rule of 37 years came to an end. Zimbabwe may soon get rid of Mugabe’s oppressive rule as he continued to rule the country with a lot of tyranny.
Mugabe was democratically elected in 1980 and he slowly tightened his grip on the people of Zimbabwe with military’s support. During his ruthless rule, the situation in Zimbabwe exacerbated. He started attacking Opposition groups in the country during all the elections. In 2000, he let war veterans seize the white-owned farms which resulted in a collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy.
After the unceremonious seizure of white-lands, Zimbabwe’s inflation had spiked chaotically. The situation in the country has deteriorated to such levels that 70 percent of Zimbabweans now live in poverty.
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However, the sad story is that even if Mugabe is removed from the top position, the person who is succeeding him may not provide any immediate relief to the people of Zimbabwe. The figures and the war veterans are exactly the same people who are behind the sorry state of affairs in the country. They are the same people who have supported Mugabe’s oppressive rule.
Mnangagwa has served as Mugabe’s enforcer for quite a long time. He is also known as an astute, ruthless and effective at manipulating the powers. He is also having the support of military and war veterans who are also behind the fall of Zimbabwe. In all likelihood, the change of power will not act as a panacea for the people of Zimbabwe.
Image Source: www.chronicle.co.zw
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