Is Mugabe a hostage of his own power hunger?

Whenever I think of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, I am always reminded of those movies whereby an armed bank robber is trapped in the bank as he is now surrounded by the police and SWAT team, and is keeping the customers and staff as his hostages.

The trapped bank robber does not know what to do, as surrendering would mean arrest, and if he tries to shoot his way out, he would most likely be shot dead himself.

If he tried to negotiate for a safe passage out of the bank, whilst holding on to a hostage, it would most likely turn out to be a trap.

Similarly, if he continues holed up in the bank, the SWAT team might just storm in and shoot him.

The bank robber seriously does not know what to do, the best option he can think of is to keep holed up in the bank, whilst holding on to the hostages - and just buy time for as long as possible - but knowing fully well that the end is not good for him.

This is how I believe is happening in our country's political establishment.

The question that has caused many a debate wherever people are gathered is: why does Mugabe not want to resign?

Is it because he loves power to much?

Is it because he truly believes he is the only one who can best govern this country?

Is it because there are other people forcing him to stay on?

We might never know the real answer - only the man himself knows why he refuses to step down.

However, as he is our country's President, I believe it is within our rights to openly debate and discuss this very pertinent issue, as it directly affects our day to day lives.

My opinion is that the man is trapped in his own power.

As in the above movie illustration, he became power-hungry earlier on in his political career, and strove to attain that power.

Eventually, he achieved his goal, but in order to consolidate that power, a lot of damage was inflicted.

I remember the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Nkomo saying that the reason for the whole Gukurahundi massacres in the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces - in which over 20,000 people were killed by the ZANU-PF government's Fifth Brigade in the 1980s - was as a result of Mugabe's love for power.

Similarly, in 2008, when he had been defeated in the Presidential elections by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)'s Morgan Tsvangirai, he unleashed all his force and several people were reported to have either lost life or limb.

The question now is: what would happen to him if he stepped down from the presidency?

Will he not be made to answer for all these atrocities?

This is where the issue becomes more complex.

Most probably he is holding on to the office of presidency for protection.

However, does he still want to be the President at his age, or he would rather have retired and taken a well-deserved rest?

I honestly think the man is tired, and would have rather rested, but like the bank robber, he feels trapped.

His options all now look bleak, as which ever one he picks, it does not look too good.

If he negotiated with the opposition for a safe passage - as I am made to believe, he once did - he can not be too sure that it is not just a trick.

I believe that he has then reluctantly chosen to remain holed up in the office of the President, and hope for the best - but his greatest fear now is that the people of Zimbabwe will inevitably remove him.

He is never going to voluntarily step down.

The man is trapped.

It is now up to the people of Zimbabwe to ensure that we get him to step down, whether through our voices and our feet in the streets, or in the forthcoming 2018 elections.

We truly need to present a united front against Mugabe and his ZANU-PF, otherwise, there would be no hope of ever removing him.

As the trapped bank robber in my illustration, he wont go without a fight, and Zimbabweans must be prepared for that.

We should expect an increase in human rights abuses, but that should never deter us whatsoever.

We should even be prepared for the eventuality that he is clearly defeated in 2018, but - as in 2008 - refuses to step down.

We know what we want, and we will endure anything in order to reach our goal.

The disappearance of Itai Dzamara did not dampen anyone's spirits.

In fact, where these was only one lonesome individual demonstrating in Africa Unity square, there are now numerous people there.

This struggle is bigger than you and me - it is not only about ourselves, but also our children and our children's children.

Therefore, the struggle can never be doused out by any number of abductions, arrests, or even murders.

No one can ever kill a revolution.

They can kill a Tendai Ruben Mbofana, but they can never kill the spirit - there will be 100 more Tendai Ruben Mbofanas - so why should I fear?

The same should go to all Zimbabweans.

There is nothing to fear from a good fight.

This is not about violence, for violence only begets violence - but peaceful struggle in the streets, and at the ballot box.

Neither is it about illegally removing the government, but merely demanding that they step down.

Let that be very clear to ZANU-PF.

We also need the opposition to be playing their part by being united for a common cause - and do away with their fragmentation that will only hand ZANU-PF victory in 2018.

The people of Zimbabwe have suffered enough, and can not take another day of this.

Let us all put off the garments of fear, and put on the armour of the revolution.


For if we miss this chance for the change we so richly deserve, we will never get another.

There is a season for everything, and this is the season for change.

The winds of change are surely blowing over Zimbabwe, so let everyone of us fly like the eagle in those streams - and let no one be left behind.

° Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist and commentator, writer, and journalist. He writes in his personal capacity, and welcomes any feedback. Please WhatsApp/call: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com. Follow on Twitter: @Tenda_Mbofana