The Demise of Mugabe: 50 + 1 Constitutional Clause

Zimbabwe's economy is in intensive care. The ugly face of inflation is back with a vengeance, there is no employment to talk about, and the country is running on useless paper called 'bond currency.' All the Despot and his cronies are focused on are 2018 elections.

The 'I will not relinquish power to anyone' script is being replayed again. You can start hearing the loud noises of 'life president' from sycophants. You can witness the daily arrests of anyone who dares to utter the words starting with, 'Mugabe ….' All the ministries deemed to be critical to Mugabe's re-election are whipped into line; Justice, War Veterans, Youth, and Women Ministries. There are bogus political parties mushrooming from every corner of the world. The opposition parties that looked formidable last year are being heavily infiltrated and daily divisions are at the center stage again.

Faced with these realities, I want to suggest something that I feel will help Zimbabwe gain peace and eventually get rid of the despot and his cronies. The first suggestion is not to participate in the elections and hope that ZANU (PF) will implode and self-destruct from within. We have already witnessed divisions within the despotic regime and I am sure the party cannot survive these internal contradictions. If this approach fails, people will revolt and bring down the regime. The masses have tolerated this comatose economy but I am sure they can stand by and watch their livelihoods continue to go down the drain.

Second, I would suggest a different kind of opposition alliance. When we think of an opposition alliance, we always think of fielding one opposition presidential candidate but I am 100 percent sure this will not succeed in Zimbabwe. With 70 percent of the electorate residing in the rural areas, ZANU (PF) has 65 percent chances of winning before they even start campaigning. My suggestion is to divide the country and assign each serious opposition party to a region.

1. Movement for Democratic Party can be tasked in sweeping all the urban vote;

2. Mthwakazi Republic Party can be tasked with sweeping Matabeleland North and South.

3. The National People's Party can be tasked to sweep Mashonaland East

4. Yes Zimbabwe can be tasked to sweep Masvingo

5. All the other parties can join ZANU Ndonga to sweep Manicaland.

Such a strategy will allow the opposition parties to be on the ground talking to electorates and assuring them that they have put ZANU (PF) and its thugs on notice. This will also stretch ZANU (PF) resources and they will not be able to beat up, intimidate, or prevent opposition supporters from going to the polls. No one candidate will be able to garner 50 + 1 percent to be the next president and it will be the people of Zimbabwe who will have the final say.

I know some people will wonder why I will prefer a hung election? The reality is ZANU (PF) will win the election in the current environment. It will not even be close call; they will sweep all provinces and will claim a mandate from the people when we all know that there is no such thing. No one in their right mind will vote for a 94-year-old great grandfather to be their president. We are living in a time when useless paper is being printed and then it is called money. Our own livelihoods, our children's future, our life savings have been robbed in broad day light.

We need to be strategic. To ensure our strategy works, we must task each opposition group to mobilize 5000 protesters from their designated areas to travel to Harare to give notice to the election commissioner, the police, the army chiefs, the chief justice, and the mister of information that they are being watched and that they must discharge their duties impartially and professionally. This must be done a month before the elections. We must tell these cronies of the regime that we know what accountability, unity, and sacrifice of country is and this time around, we will be on guard and will guard for our rights and freedom jealously.