Opinion / Columnist
Let's give Mnangagwa a fair chance
27 Nov 2017 at 12:21hrs | Views
As the new era dawned for Zimbabwe, fear and hope has arisen as to what kind of administration can be anticipated under newly elected President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa, who has been an ally for Robert Mugabe for over decades has succeeded him after he was forced to resign as president, a position he held for 37 years.
While the majority can agree that Robert Mugabe overstayed his welcome in office, people can't hold their breath about his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa. Having worked with Mugabe for decades is justified for people to have doubts as to whether he can be that agent of change that can transform economy for the better lives of Zimbabweans, while other would still see Mugabe in him though with different face this time.
However much as might have been said he deserves his fair chance in office. We can't brush him with same paint with Mugabe despite failures with him. He might just be the messiah the Zimbabweans have been longing for past 37 years and make his own positive legacy for the better lives of the citizens. The removal of Mugabe was a first step in making things right by the Zimbabwean and now it's up to Mnangagwa to deliver.
Affectionately known as The Crocodile, Mnangagwa has a fearsome reputation as the security chief who used violence to keep Mugabe in power. He was in charge of state security at the time of the brutal Matabeleland massacre, a crackdown that killed thousands of people and he denied being involved in that incident.
He has seen it all under Mugabe administration - success and failures - thus that should give him a better view as to what need to be done to correct the mess of the previous administration bearing in mind that if he can follow in the footsteps of Mugabe what might happen as it was with Mugabe and military intervention to remove him.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt; he might just change Zimbabwe to that breadbasket of southern Africa it used to be, although it will take time to find its stability again with the struggling economy and he will need support of everyone.
His inauguration speech was really moving and hopeful and we can only hope he lives up to it. He can be the answer that Zimbabweans have always been praying for, let's give him a fair chance.
Mnangagwa, who has been an ally for Robert Mugabe for over decades has succeeded him after he was forced to resign as president, a position he held for 37 years.
While the majority can agree that Robert Mugabe overstayed his welcome in office, people can't hold their breath about his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa. Having worked with Mugabe for decades is justified for people to have doubts as to whether he can be that agent of change that can transform economy for the better lives of Zimbabweans, while other would still see Mugabe in him though with different face this time.
However much as might have been said he deserves his fair chance in office. We can't brush him with same paint with Mugabe despite failures with him. He might just be the messiah the Zimbabweans have been longing for past 37 years and make his own positive legacy for the better lives of the citizens. The removal of Mugabe was a first step in making things right by the Zimbabwean and now it's up to Mnangagwa to deliver.
Affectionately known as The Crocodile, Mnangagwa has a fearsome reputation as the security chief who used violence to keep Mugabe in power. He was in charge of state security at the time of the brutal Matabeleland massacre, a crackdown that killed thousands of people and he denied being involved in that incident.
He has seen it all under Mugabe administration - success and failures - thus that should give him a better view as to what need to be done to correct the mess of the previous administration bearing in mind that if he can follow in the footsteps of Mugabe what might happen as it was with Mugabe and military intervention to remove him.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt; he might just change Zimbabwe to that breadbasket of southern Africa it used to be, although it will take time to find its stability again with the struggling economy and he will need support of everyone.
His inauguration speech was really moving and hopeful and we can only hope he lives up to it. He can be the answer that Zimbabweans have always been praying for, let's give him a fair chance.
Source - news24
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