Mugabe
MUGABE- THE FALLEN IROKO
I will use this space to reflect on the life of one of African's iconic leaders. Whether you love, hate, revile or mock him; the man was indeed an Iroko for his fall reverberated beyond his country and continent of Africa.
Few weeks ago; youths, adults, women and children took to the street of Harare and other cities of Zimbabwe in Wild jubilation. They were really excited as some were seen shedding tears of joy. The reason for their excitement was that number one Nemesis (or so they believed)had at last relinquished power after close to 40 years in power. How is it that the Fall of this Iroko which would have led animals to scamper for safety now resulted in jubilation? Well, it would be expedient to take a look at the brief history of Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
Born in 1924, Robert Mugabe was treated as a teacher at the University of Fort Hare. He worked in Southern and Northern Rhodesia as well as Ghana. When he saw the oppression of his people, he embraced socialism and joined in the liberation struggle. He was subsequently arrested for sedition and imprisoned. Mugabe fleed to Mozambique upon his release in 1974 and from there controlled the ZANU PF which battled the Whites in the Rhodesian War. A compromise was reached in 1980 resulting in an election won by the ZANU PF. Mugabe led the crush of oppostion led by Joshua Nkomo of the ZAPU in the ensuing power struggle.
With opposition crushed, Mugabe went ahead to amend the Constitution to allow him an unlimited number of terms as the executive President. His agricultural reforms led to forceful seizure of large farmlands previously controlled by the Whites. The land was redistributed to cronies of the administration who couldn't manage them effectively. This and institutionalized corruption led to grounding recession that gradually spiralled out of control. His subsequent defeat in the 2008 general election ( which he refused to accept) by Morgan Tsvangirai and crackdown of opponents led to increased sanctions on Zimbabwe, Mugabe and associates.
Recently however, the ageing and frail Mugabe was seen as been controlled by his boisterous wife, Grace"Gucci" Mugabe. Forty years his junior, Grace was infamous for her flamboyant lifestyle. She took advantage of the ailing president lack of coordination to gradually take control of ZANU PF mechanism. She removed 2 Vice-presidents- Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa aka the crocodile. Joice was removed to pave the way for her to be the ZANU PF women leader while Emmerson was removed so that she could install herself as the next president.
This backfired as the 'crocodile' mobilised his friends in the army who placed the old president under house arrest. He further spurred the party to remove Mugabe as the Head of ZANU PF and he was later forced to resign to avoid impeachment proceedings against him. That was how a great man was brought down because of a woman and great was his Fall!
I will use this space to reflect on the life of one of African's iconic leaders. Whether you love, hate, revile or mock him; the man was indeed an Iroko for his fall reverberated beyond his country and continent of Africa.
Few weeks ago; youths, adults, women and children took to the street of Harare and other cities of Zimbabwe in Wild jubilation. They were really excited as some were seen shedding tears of joy. The reason for their excitement was that number one Nemesis (or so they believed)had at last relinquished power after close to 40 years in power. How is it that the Fall of this Iroko which would have led animals to scamper for safety now resulted in jubilation? Well, it would be expedient to take a look at the brief history of Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
Born in 1924, Robert Mugabe was treated as a teacher at the University of Fort Hare. He worked in Southern and Northern Rhodesia as well as Ghana. When he saw the oppression of his people, he embraced socialism and joined in the liberation struggle. He was subsequently arrested for sedition and imprisoned. Mugabe fleed to Mozambique upon his release in 1974 and from there controlled the ZANU PF which battled the Whites in the Rhodesian War. A compromise was reached in 1980 resulting in an election won by the ZANU PF. Mugabe led the crush of oppostion led by Joshua Nkomo of the ZAPU in the ensuing power struggle.
With opposition crushed, Mugabe went ahead to amend the Constitution to allow him an unlimited number of terms as the executive President. His agricultural reforms led to forceful seizure of large farmlands previously controlled by the Whites. The land was redistributed to cronies of the administration who couldn't manage them effectively. This and institutionalized corruption led to grounding recession that gradually spiralled out of control. His subsequent defeat in the 2008 general election ( which he refused to accept) by Morgan Tsvangirai and crackdown of opponents led to increased sanctions on Zimbabwe, Mugabe and associates.
Recently however, the ageing and frail Mugabe was seen as been controlled by his boisterous wife, Grace"Gucci" Mugabe. Forty years his junior, Grace was infamous for her flamboyant lifestyle. She took advantage of the ailing president lack of coordination to gradually take control of ZANU PF mechanism. She removed 2 Vice-presidents- Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa aka the crocodile. Joice was removed to pave the way for her to be the ZANU PF women leader while Emmerson was removed so that she could install herself as the next president.
This backfired as the 'crocodile' mobilised his friends in the army who placed the old president under house arrest. He further spurred the party to remove Mugabe as the Head of ZANU PF and he was later forced to resign to avoid impeachment proceedings against him. That was how a great man was brought down because of a woman and great was his Fall!
Comments
Post a Comment