Mugabe lost popularity long back

Former President Robert Mugabe lost his popularity way back before his resignation from his duties as the Head of State and Government on 21 November 2017.

In a recent interview with foreign journalists from various media houses at his blue roof homestead in Borrowdale Harare, the former Zanu-PF first secretary said he still remains popular in Zimbabwe and Zanu-PF in particular. He also wrongly claimed that the people who marched against his leadership on 18 November last year were opposition supporters from the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC). However, his remarks make no sense as the people who demonstrated against him were Zimbabweans from different political parties, including Zanu-PF supporters.

When Members of Parliament began their impeachment proceedings, crowds of people from all political parties turned up to cheer through singing, dancing and chanting in Africa Unity square. This was done as a way of celebrating the end of Mugabe's reign.

Also, most people who marched from Gwanzura stadium to town were being led by the former freedom fighters. Mugabe used to say that war veterans were always behind him.

Recently, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association's (ZNLWVA) top leadership ordered the former President to shut up, as he was claiming that he was being intimated for forming his opposition party, National Patriotic Front.

ZNLWVA secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda was reportedly quoted saying, "Mugabe has never been a war veteran and he cannot be a member of the patriotic front because he never participated in any war. He cannot call his party patriotic front, but patriotic fail. He should just keep quiet and rest peacefully."

The air time that was given to the interview of the former president by the foreign media houses says a lot. In most news channels and their news bulletins, the coverage of the interview was only given a short time to prove that the elderly man is no longer popular.

It is unfortunate that the former President failed to realize that he was no longer a darling of the people of Zimbabwe and the world over during his tenure as President of the nation. President Mugabe was not only unwelcome in his country but the world over. This was mainly because of his old age and overstaying in power that most people and politicians believed was beyond his reign.

Surely, at the age of 94 what else did people expect from the former President besides him sleeping during programmes. What Zimbabweans wanted was for Mugabe to rest and enjoy his retirement or concentrate on other programmes that needs less pressure.

Reacting to the interview of the former President, President Mnangagwa released a statement saying, Mugabe has the freedom to express himself freely like any other citizen. President Mnangagwa said the nation has moved on and it was now focusing on preparing for free, fair and harmonised elections that are to be held in the next coming four months.

The former President should be reminded that Zimbabweans are content with the new administration under President Mnangagwa. From the time he assumed office, President Mnangagwa has been busy trying to restore the economy that his predecessor failed to develop during his 37 years of leading. Presently, a lot of tangible economic developments are being noticed and Zimbabweans are satisfied with that.

In that vein, Mugabe must accept that he is no longer in power and should neither interrupt Government business or the revolutionary party's programmes. In short, he must leave President Mnangagwa to correct the mess he left.

Zimbabweans have moved forward, my advice to the former president is for him to do the same.