Opinion / Columnist
Mugabe must preserve the little left of his dignity
13 Mar 2018 at 01:39hrs | Views
DEVELOPMENTS in the last few weeks may be the clearest indicator yet that the world has not seen the last of the obstinate former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe.
The bulk of people had envisaged a situation where the humiliated former President would, as he seemed to be doing, take a deserved break from all things political and rest at his palatial 44-acre residence in Borrowdale.
His absence from key national events after his ouster gave a hint of retiring from public life.
Mugabe was conspicuous by his absence on notable funerals including that of his former sidekick, Timothy Stamps.
All this seemed to cement the position that the old man of Zimbabwean politics had finally opted for a private life.
It was assumed that the media would soon give up on him, realising the nonagenarian wanted nothing to do with national governance issues.
Further, that Mugabe was not quick to send a condolence message to the family of his longtime political opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, seemed to affirm his reluctance to be in the eye of the public.
However, developments of the last few weeks indicate otherwise.
At the draining age of 94, surely one would not expect the man to be putting up a fight, but people could be wrong.
Mugabe is an extremely bitter soul; bitter that power was unceremoniously wrested from him.
Bitter that the man running the show was one to have licked his boots in the past.
Mugabe is absolutely angry to be leading life as a private citizen, having lived in the glamour of influence and world attention for nearly four decades.
His actions speak for themselves. Now, can Mugabe make a comeback?
Could there be someone within the walls of his plush residence whispering impossibilities to the old man?
It should be horrifying to Zimbabweans that Mugabe is frantically trying to make himself relevant within the national body politic. We hear that Mugabe has appealed to the African Union for help "to restore normalcy and democracy in Zimbabwe".
Laughable, isn't it?
It is ironic that Mugabe would dare mention anything to do with constitutionalism in this country.
Mugabe's shots at President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration are almost preposterous.
Even his rhetoric that the army must have checked his popularity in other towns in Zimbabwe, before his fall exposes a man marooned in his own world away from the obtaining reality.
It can be said, matter-of-factly, that over 90% of Zimbabweans, within and outside the country, would not want to see Mugabe's name appearing anywhere near the affairs of this country again.
In fact, 90 % may be an understatement; Mugabe represents the chaos that has become the face of this country.
Some of the problems haunting the present government are of Mugabe's doing.
Infrastructural development suffered during his reign.
How can Zimbabwe have the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe building as the tallest erection in a capital city in this age?
How can the largest referral hospital in the country, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, be having a single ramshackle of an ambulance in this age?
How many innocent bread winners perished in his hands for merely voicing a different thought?
Mugabe must get this message straight; by trying to put up a fight, he can only wilt the little dignity left of him after his inglorious ouster last year.
Someone needs to advise Bob to retire from politics; even the laziest Zimbabwean, who never made an effort to improve his life, will have a thing or two against Mugabe.
Thousands of people from different political persuasions united for what had become a national cause last November - the removal of Mugabe from power.
Zimbabweans, in essence, feel that they were rescued from the crippling jaws of a merciless alligator. It is a mystery how Mugabe thinks he can make a comeback in Zimbabwean politics.
Given the abuse suffered by Zimbabweans at the hands of Mugabe, it is not far from reality to say that Zimbabweans are a magnanimous lot.
Mugabe ought to be thankful that Zimbabweans do not possess the Libyan ideology.
Why most of us do not care an ounce for what became of his end, Mugabe cared little about Zimbabweans. Apart from the political rhetoric attacking developed nations in international forums the man did nothing for his country.
Mugabe has more victims than supporters.
It was during Mugabe's rule that professions such as teaching and nursing began to have redundant people.
Surely, how can qualified teachers and nurses be sitting at home in a normally functioning country. Mugabe had become the biggest obstacle to national growth.
For three painful decades Zimbabweans watched helplessly as everything that true liberation war cadres fought for was trampled upon.
The country had been privatised and Grace Mugabe had become the law.
Someone please advise Mugabe that he must try to save the little dignity he has left rather than engaging in an evidently lost cause.
---------
Learnmore Zuze is a law officer and writes in his own capacity. E-mail lastawa77@gmail.com
The bulk of people had envisaged a situation where the humiliated former President would, as he seemed to be doing, take a deserved break from all things political and rest at his palatial 44-acre residence in Borrowdale.
His absence from key national events after his ouster gave a hint of retiring from public life.
Mugabe was conspicuous by his absence on notable funerals including that of his former sidekick, Timothy Stamps.
All this seemed to cement the position that the old man of Zimbabwean politics had finally opted for a private life.
It was assumed that the media would soon give up on him, realising the nonagenarian wanted nothing to do with national governance issues.
Further, that Mugabe was not quick to send a condolence message to the family of his longtime political opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, seemed to affirm his reluctance to be in the eye of the public.
However, developments of the last few weeks indicate otherwise.
At the draining age of 94, surely one would not expect the man to be putting up a fight, but people could be wrong.
Mugabe is an extremely bitter soul; bitter that power was unceremoniously wrested from him.
Bitter that the man running the show was one to have licked his boots in the past.
Mugabe is absolutely angry to be leading life as a private citizen, having lived in the glamour of influence and world attention for nearly four decades.
His actions speak for themselves. Now, can Mugabe make a comeback?
Could there be someone within the walls of his plush residence whispering impossibilities to the old man?
It should be horrifying to Zimbabweans that Mugabe is frantically trying to make himself relevant within the national body politic. We hear that Mugabe has appealed to the African Union for help "to restore normalcy and democracy in Zimbabwe".
Laughable, isn't it?
It is ironic that Mugabe would dare mention anything to do with constitutionalism in this country.
Mugabe's shots at President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration are almost preposterous.
Even his rhetoric that the army must have checked his popularity in other towns in Zimbabwe, before his fall exposes a man marooned in his own world away from the obtaining reality.
It can be said, matter-of-factly, that over 90% of Zimbabweans, within and outside the country, would not want to see Mugabe's name appearing anywhere near the affairs of this country again.
Some of the problems haunting the present government are of Mugabe's doing.
Infrastructural development suffered during his reign.
How can Zimbabwe have the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe building as the tallest erection in a capital city in this age?
How can the largest referral hospital in the country, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, be having a single ramshackle of an ambulance in this age?
How many innocent bread winners perished in his hands for merely voicing a different thought?
Mugabe must get this message straight; by trying to put up a fight, he can only wilt the little dignity left of him after his inglorious ouster last year.
Someone needs to advise Bob to retire from politics; even the laziest Zimbabwean, who never made an effort to improve his life, will have a thing or two against Mugabe.
Thousands of people from different political persuasions united for what had become a national cause last November - the removal of Mugabe from power.
Zimbabweans, in essence, feel that they were rescued from the crippling jaws of a merciless alligator. It is a mystery how Mugabe thinks he can make a comeback in Zimbabwean politics.
Given the abuse suffered by Zimbabweans at the hands of Mugabe, it is not far from reality to say that Zimbabweans are a magnanimous lot.
Mugabe ought to be thankful that Zimbabweans do not possess the Libyan ideology.
Why most of us do not care an ounce for what became of his end, Mugabe cared little about Zimbabweans. Apart from the political rhetoric attacking developed nations in international forums the man did nothing for his country.
Mugabe has more victims than supporters.
It was during Mugabe's rule that professions such as teaching and nursing began to have redundant people.
Surely, how can qualified teachers and nurses be sitting at home in a normally functioning country. Mugabe had become the biggest obstacle to national growth.
For three painful decades Zimbabweans watched helplessly as everything that true liberation war cadres fought for was trampled upon.
The country had been privatised and Grace Mugabe had become the law.
Someone please advise Mugabe that he must try to save the little dignity he has left rather than engaging in an evidently lost cause.
---------
Learnmore Zuze is a law officer and writes in his own capacity. E-mail lastawa77@gmail.com
Source - newsday
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