News / National
The New Zimbabwean president faces high expectations. will he fulfil them?
24 Nov 2017 at 04:54hrs | Views
As Zimbabweans enter in the new era with a new president. This will be honestly the fourth President of the country but the second in 37 years. Remember there was president in 1979 that time it was called Zimbabwe Rhodesia. After him another president called Canaan sodindo Banana was inaugurated. Banana was followed by president cde Robert Mugabe who ruled the country for 37 years Generations where born and never knew of any other president except RG Mugabe. The departure of Mugabe brought great expectations. The incoming
President must steer tricky path between MPs, generals, unreconstructed bureaucracy and voters' unrealistic demands.
Zimbabwe's next president will be in the strange position of not knowing what powers he will have. It has so far proved too difficult and divisive to write a permanent constitution for the post Mugabe era.
Emmerson Munangagwa has big shoes to fit in. He will be marked against Mugabe
Excitement about the Mugabe's departure aside, it is clear that being a new head of state is only part of a process of reform whose outcome is far from clear. It will not in itself be restoring stability and security, nor bring the prosperity to millions of Zimbabwean masses they have been yearning for since the revolution.
Nor will it end the military's involvement in politics, let alone usher in a new golden age of social justice. The new president is not going to simply waive broom ir the wands and things happen.
Key to the country's future is the question of relations between the army and the Central intelligence organisation. This has deteriorated in the few days the army assisted the takeover. The president has to quickly make a new dispensation and make the the police the CIO and the army find each other very fast. For there to be a functioning system a peace pipe has to be smoked. While it is true the police needs thorough cleaning. It was clear that there was mistrust between the police and the people. Then there was a very public secret that the army and the police do not like each other. It is the president who should bring the warring parties together. While parliament is dominated by a large majority of Zanu pf MPs who are widely thought to have performed disappointingly. It will be a good idea to unite the parties for the common good. Under the current constitutional declaration, which was supposedly working the president can make key appointments but cannot ratify policy, including the state budget, which is still the sole preserve of parliament. No law can be passed without agreement between the two so the president must have an open mind and deal with the stinking economy. The issue of the open mouth and shut mind must be the thing of the past. People do not eat politics. They need food on the table and all eyes are on the new president.
The issue of hero worshiping must stop. A spade must be called a spade. Rules governing daily lives must change.
Analysts warn that if these rules do not change, the president risks being weak and subservient. "Conflict is unavoidable if the president finds himself caught between the anvil of public discontent and the hammer of party pressure. This is the time to do the right thing and not to do the vengeful kit.
Mnangagwa must be an angel he is not. He must not stoop to the level of those who persecuted him. He must let the bygones be the bygones. He must realise that it was those rantings which gained him sympathy and support of the people.
The president must never trust his current bunch of Central Committe and PB members. They are the same ones who danced as he was haunted out and again the same ones who danced him in. They dance and sing for their supper so they can not be trusted.
Comrade Sydney Sekeramai who many G40 had hoped would contest the presidential seat must clarify his position this lack of clarity sows the seeds for conflict. Conflict is not in our-vocabulary now. We need peace and prosperity.
The president must have a different approach. He has no natural power base and would therefore probably seek to reinforce the authority of the presidency on the trend of revolutionary demands and the wishes of people This will clearly find it easier to work with MPs and other organisations. Overall expectations of change, many fear, could be dangerously high but can be achieved.
"Any new president [who seeks reform for the benefit of the people] will inherit a bureaucracy in the state machinery that remains untouched by the revolution.
Another vital unanswered question is the three-way relationship between the president, parliament and the generals of the serving forces. This should be sorted fast and even though the army did a splendid job they must not at all be given the first citizen status. This will create another monster. We must never be silently under the army rule. We must appreciate and respect them for the job well done. But we must never make gods out of them.
Mnangagwa seems certain to stand by his pledge to peace and forgiveness. But, equally, he must insist on retaining control over security and foreign policy issues as the price for sending the troops back to barracks is priceless. The plan is to create a new zimbabwe but no one knows how - or indeed whether - the military can be subordinated to elected civilian officials and institutions. We believe our soldiers are educated and they will play their role and let the president be.
"Given the list of pressing issues the new president will face on his first day in office - relations with parliament; the position and status of the military; constitutional reform; kick-starting the economy; relations with The West and the US; the decline in Zimbabwe's relative position in the world; the crisis in The party and the ongoing problems with Our economy perhaps the greatest problem facing The new president will be the hopelessly unrealistic popular expectations that the handover of power are likely to create. This inauguration may well mark the end of a traumatic period in recent Zimbabwean history, but in many ways, the hard work is only just beginning."
It is the bad time to be Mnangagwa now but for him to remain our hero he must steer Zimbabwe back to Zimbabwe.
Justice must be done and looters must return the loot. Corruption must be arrested now. Confidence in leadership must be restored.
Pride must never lead us as a country.
The work ahead of Mnangagwa is to big. He must not surround himself with cronies who are tested and failed. May the new blood be pumped in for the good of our country.
Zimbabwe is the only country we can call ours. Long live Zimbabwe.
Vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
President must steer tricky path between MPs, generals, unreconstructed bureaucracy and voters' unrealistic demands.
Zimbabwe's next president will be in the strange position of not knowing what powers he will have. It has so far proved too difficult and divisive to write a permanent constitution for the post Mugabe era.
Emmerson Munangagwa has big shoes to fit in. He will be marked against Mugabe
Excitement about the Mugabe's departure aside, it is clear that being a new head of state is only part of a process of reform whose outcome is far from clear. It will not in itself be restoring stability and security, nor bring the prosperity to millions of Zimbabwean masses they have been yearning for since the revolution.
Nor will it end the military's involvement in politics, let alone usher in a new golden age of social justice. The new president is not going to simply waive broom ir the wands and things happen.
Key to the country's future is the question of relations between the army and the Central intelligence organisation. This has deteriorated in the few days the army assisted the takeover. The president has to quickly make a new dispensation and make the the police the CIO and the army find each other very fast. For there to be a functioning system a peace pipe has to be smoked. While it is true the police needs thorough cleaning. It was clear that there was mistrust between the police and the people. Then there was a very public secret that the army and the police do not like each other. It is the president who should bring the warring parties together. While parliament is dominated by a large majority of Zanu pf MPs who are widely thought to have performed disappointingly. It will be a good idea to unite the parties for the common good. Under the current constitutional declaration, which was supposedly working the president can make key appointments but cannot ratify policy, including the state budget, which is still the sole preserve of parliament. No law can be passed without agreement between the two so the president must have an open mind and deal with the stinking economy. The issue of the open mouth and shut mind must be the thing of the past. People do not eat politics. They need food on the table and all eyes are on the new president.
The issue of hero worshiping must stop. A spade must be called a spade. Rules governing daily lives must change.
Analysts warn that if these rules do not change, the president risks being weak and subservient. "Conflict is unavoidable if the president finds himself caught between the anvil of public discontent and the hammer of party pressure. This is the time to do the right thing and not to do the vengeful kit.
Mnangagwa must be an angel he is not. He must not stoop to the level of those who persecuted him. He must let the bygones be the bygones. He must realise that it was those rantings which gained him sympathy and support of the people.
The president must never trust his current bunch of Central Committe and PB members. They are the same ones who danced as he was haunted out and again the same ones who danced him in. They dance and sing for their supper so they can not be trusted.
The president must have a different approach. He has no natural power base and would therefore probably seek to reinforce the authority of the presidency on the trend of revolutionary demands and the wishes of people This will clearly find it easier to work with MPs and other organisations. Overall expectations of change, many fear, could be dangerously high but can be achieved.
"Any new president [who seeks reform for the benefit of the people] will inherit a bureaucracy in the state machinery that remains untouched by the revolution.
Another vital unanswered question is the three-way relationship between the president, parliament and the generals of the serving forces. This should be sorted fast and even though the army did a splendid job they must not at all be given the first citizen status. This will create another monster. We must never be silently under the army rule. We must appreciate and respect them for the job well done. But we must never make gods out of them.
Mnangagwa seems certain to stand by his pledge to peace and forgiveness. But, equally, he must insist on retaining control over security and foreign policy issues as the price for sending the troops back to barracks is priceless. The plan is to create a new zimbabwe but no one knows how - or indeed whether - the military can be subordinated to elected civilian officials and institutions. We believe our soldiers are educated and they will play their role and let the president be.
"Given the list of pressing issues the new president will face on his first day in office - relations with parliament; the position and status of the military; constitutional reform; kick-starting the economy; relations with The West and the US; the decline in Zimbabwe's relative position in the world; the crisis in The party and the ongoing problems with Our economy perhaps the greatest problem facing The new president will be the hopelessly unrealistic popular expectations that the handover of power are likely to create. This inauguration may well mark the end of a traumatic period in recent Zimbabwean history, but in many ways, the hard work is only just beginning."
It is the bad time to be Mnangagwa now but for him to remain our hero he must steer Zimbabwe back to Zimbabwe.
Justice must be done and looters must return the loot. Corruption must be arrested now. Confidence in leadership must be restored.
Pride must never lead us as a country.
The work ahead of Mnangagwa is to big. He must not surround himself with cronies who are tested and failed. May the new blood be pumped in for the good of our country.
Zimbabwe is the only country we can call ours. Long live Zimbabwe.
Vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
Source - Dr Masimba Mavaza
