Opinion / Columnist
The Book of Mugabe: Chapter three
24 Nov 2017 at 07:31hrs | Views
1 It came to pass that on the third day of the third week, Mugabe called a meeting of the Kingdom's ruling council. 2 But none of the members of the council attended. One went his way; the others did according to what pleaseth them. 3 When Mugabe saw that no one attended his meeting, his heart grieved sorely for the misery that had come upon him. 4 Again he sought for the counsel of Grace. But Grace was nowhere to be found. 5 Mugabe wept.
6 It came to pass that as Mugabe grieved in solitude in his bedchamber, word came to him that the princes of the Kingdom had gathered at Mount Rainbow in Harare. He looked out of his window and saw a great multitude on the streets of Harare making sounds that rent the earth. 7 He asked a servant what the commotion was about, and was told the princes of the Kingdom had gathered to depose him, for they said he slept too much, was too frail, and allowed his wife to 'usurp' the throne.
8 Greatly agitated, Mugabe sent for one of the Levites called Fidelis the son of Mukonori, who had helped him in the past, and had found favour in his sight. 9 He also sent for two of his former advisers, Jonathan the son of Moyo and Saviour the son of Kasukuwere, who hid in a vault near the palace gardens when the soldiers of Constantino son of Chiwenga overran the king's palace. 10 When Mugabe met with these men, some noblemen, and military chiefs, he asked them to swear not to harm a single hair on the heads of Grace and the rest of the King's household. Fidelis the son of Mukonori assured him, "As the God I serve liveth, not one of their hairs shall be lost." 11 Mugabe then agreed to leave the Kingdom and go into exile in a neighbouring kingdom. 12 He dictated a letter to Jacob the son of Mudenda, the chief of the princes of the Kingdom. The soldiers wrote the letter, as Mugabe's hand was shaky.
13 When Jacob the son of Mudenda read Mugabe's letter to the princes of the Kingdom, they raised their voices as one and shouted in joy. 14 Jacob then blew the trumpet, and all the princes of the Kingdom came up after him, singing, dancing, and playing pipes and tambourines. 15 When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they gave a great shout like rushing winds. 16 So great was their noise that the earth rent like an earthquake.
17 It came to pass that when Emmerson the son of Mnangagwa heard what had transpired, he rejoiced exceedingly, for the princes of the Kingdom had promised to make him king. 18 Now, the people of Zimbabwe do not love Emmerson the son of Mnangagwa, and they feared him even more than Mugabe. 19 It is said that Emmerson has the heart of a crocodile, and could treat the people more harshly than Mugabe.
20 Now, all the acts of Mugabe, his valour in battles against the British and his oppression of his own people, are they not recorded in the book of the chronicles of Zimbabwe? 21 And Mugabe was 93 years when he retired, and he reigned a score and seventeen years.
6 It came to pass that as Mugabe grieved in solitude in his bedchamber, word came to him that the princes of the Kingdom had gathered at Mount Rainbow in Harare. He looked out of his window and saw a great multitude on the streets of Harare making sounds that rent the earth. 7 He asked a servant what the commotion was about, and was told the princes of the Kingdom had gathered to depose him, for they said he slept too much, was too frail, and allowed his wife to 'usurp' the throne.
8 Greatly agitated, Mugabe sent for one of the Levites called Fidelis the son of Mukonori, who had helped him in the past, and had found favour in his sight. 9 He also sent for two of his former advisers, Jonathan the son of Moyo and Saviour the son of Kasukuwere, who hid in a vault near the palace gardens when the soldiers of Constantino son of Chiwenga overran the king's palace. 10 When Mugabe met with these men, some noblemen, and military chiefs, he asked them to swear not to harm a single hair on the heads of Grace and the rest of the King's household. Fidelis the son of Mukonori assured him, "As the God I serve liveth, not one of their hairs shall be lost." 11 Mugabe then agreed to leave the Kingdom and go into exile in a neighbouring kingdom. 12 He dictated a letter to Jacob the son of Mudenda, the chief of the princes of the Kingdom. The soldiers wrote the letter, as Mugabe's hand was shaky.
13 When Jacob the son of Mudenda read Mugabe's letter to the princes of the Kingdom, they raised their voices as one and shouted in joy. 14 Jacob then blew the trumpet, and all the princes of the Kingdom came up after him, singing, dancing, and playing pipes and tambourines. 15 When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they gave a great shout like rushing winds. 16 So great was their noise that the earth rent like an earthquake.
17 It came to pass that when Emmerson the son of Mnangagwa heard what had transpired, he rejoiced exceedingly, for the princes of the Kingdom had promised to make him king. 18 Now, the people of Zimbabwe do not love Emmerson the son of Mnangagwa, and they feared him even more than Mugabe. 19 It is said that Emmerson has the heart of a crocodile, and could treat the people more harshly than Mugabe.
20 Now, all the acts of Mugabe, his valour in battles against the British and his oppression of his own people, are they not recorded in the book of the chronicles of Zimbabwe? 21 And Mugabe was 93 years when he retired, and he reigned a score and seventeen years.
Source - Anthony C Diala
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