Zimbabwe is once again a country at crossroads because of President Robert Mugabe’s stubborn refusal to see the writing on the wall.
THE STANDARD COMMENT
Mugabe is battling rising discontent from his ruling Zanu PF party and citizens that are fed up with his failed leadership, characterised by an economic collapse only matched by countries ravaged by decades of civil wars.
The government is unable to pay its workers on time, the economy is running out of cash, companies are closing down at an alarming rate and unemployment is now estimated to be at a staggering 90% of the population.
Zimbabwe’s social fabric has been torn apart by the unending economic problems. Over three million people are facing starvation this year and the government does not have the resources to provide food relief.
In fact, the country’s problems are too many to mention and they were all caused by an inept leadership that has been isolated by the international community because of corruption and a poor human rights record.
The multifaceted crisis has gotten worse because of the succession wars that have been tearing Zanu PF apart since 2014 when Mugabe fired his then deputy Joice Mujuru on what now appears to be trumped up charges.
Zanu PF had not recovered from those seismic changes in its leadership structures when it was jolted by a war veterans’ revolt. The former Zanu PF stormtroopers recently went public about their discomfort with Mugabe’s continued rule.
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The veterans accused Mugabe of mismanaging the economy, tolerating corruption and being a dictator.
Their charge sheet summed up what Zimbabweans have been saying about their leader for a very long time.
Now the knives are out for Mujuru’s successor Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is accused of plotting to oust Mugabe.
We are back where we were in 2014 and the economy will once again play second fiddle to the Zanu PF power games on the government’s priority list.
Serve for those enjoying a ride on the Zanu PF gravy train, there is consensus that Mugabe’s stewardship of the country and economy has been a disaster.
However, instead of taking note of citizens’ concerns and correcting some of their mistakes, Mugabe and his government have responded with fury, insults, threats, arbitrary arrests and intimidation.
The ruling party has in the past month spent more time organising solidarity marches for Mugabe than taking practical steps to forestall an economic implosion. Mugabe has only been visible at political gatherings and firefighting meetings with war veterans.
He has not made any meaningful pronouncements on the economy since the beginning of the year and does not behave like a leader presiding over a country that is in a debilitating crisis.
Mugabe is not providing any leadership to stop Zimbabwe from sinking deeper into an economic recession and it is not surprising that he has been unable to do his job to expectations.
He is 92 years old and has been in power for 36 years. The Zanu PF leader is tired and has nothing new to offer.
Zimbabwe is a typical example of a country that is running on autopilot. It is high time citizens raised their voices to demand better leadership.
Those that have taken up the challenge must not be silenced by a bankrupt regime that believes its clueless leader is ordained to rule until he dies.
