Like father like son : Mnangagwa is following the discredited path taken by Robert Mugabe

As a devoted political son of the departed tyrant, the president of Zimbabwe knows no other way

It is surprising that people seem to have forgotten so quickly that president Emmerson Mnangagwa was an understudy to Robert Mugabe. For over fifty years the two worked closely together. They were together in the trenches in the 60s as freedom fighters.




Mugabe and Mnangagwa as freedom fighters

This means that they both saw a prosperous Zimbabwe, even though under colonial rule. It is sad to recall that after political power was handed over to them, they also both collaborated to bring the country to her knees. It was under their watch that a country that was referred to as the bread basket of Southern Africa became an economic basket-case. Mugabe and Mnangagwa became a twin menace.




It would be recalled that the twin pillars of Mugabe's maladministration were repression and playing the blame game. He murdered thousands of his opponents and anyone who dared to disagree with his government. He was also adept at blaming the white man for all his woes. For example, he was always at loggerheads with Britain. He kept blaming Britain even after coming to power instead of coming up with a workable blueprint that would have ensured a reconciliation between blacks and whites so that they could live together side by side happily as they were all citizens of Zimbabwe.

Also, he could have handled the issue of land re-distribution more gingerly in order to ensure that the blacks got some justice while not alienating the whites. This would have taken some. The old tyrant instead wasted all his opportunities blaming everyone else except himself.




Tragically, president Mnangagwa has foolishly been following the footpaths of his late mentor. For instance, he has been blaming America and the EU for a looming famine instead of rejigging his own sick policies.

Similarly, from preachers to teachers, anyone who stands up to Zimbabwe’s current rulers risk being beaten, jailed or killed. In the past few weeks, masked men have removed and tortured a doctor, a female comedian and a singer whose lyrics were deemed to insult Emmerson Mnangagwa, the president. A market trader in Harare was beaten so badly that he died.

It can also be said that one of the greatest things that could happen to Zimbabwe is the current US ambassador, Brian Nichols. He has become a thorn in the flesh of the evil regime by pointing out its atrocities and excesses. Nichols has visited victims of violence from state security forces, posting photographs of himself with them.

His straight-talking has upset the government so much that it is threatening to kick him out. 

The big question is : When will African leaders learn that America and Britain did not get to where they are by repressing their peoples.