The End of Robert Mugabe (Part 1)

Since 1980 Robert Mugabe has been at the helm of Zimbabwe, his rule is marred by genocide, countless cases of political violence, brainwashing of the citizenry, economic collapse, corruption and election rigging. With all that he is accused of Robert Mugabe at 91 he is still in power and not only that, he chairs the African Union and Southern African Development Committee (SADC).

Precedence has that at 85 and beyond a human being begins to lose control of his physical and mental faculties, unless otherwise proven; Robert Mugabe is subject to the same laws that govern human life. Therefore this article is necessitated by his age. The article seeks to establish likely scenarios in case of his inevitable departure from the political scene.  It will look closely to the lives of 'Dictators' who led their countries the same way he has led Zimbabwe, with special focus on how they vacated power and what happened after they had left.

Kim Il Sung of North Korea was the supreme leader of that country for 46 years, his rule claimed 1.6 million lives. Interestingly Kim was Prime Minister for the first 24 years of his rule then became President for the remaining 22 years of his life. Take note that both as Prime Minister and as President he was still the most powerful man in the country. In the very same way that Robert Mugabe was Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and then became President from the end of his Prime Ministership to date. Kim was the Chairman of the Workers Party of Korea from 1949 to 1966 and then also became the Secretary General from 1966 till the time of his death.

Similarly Mugabe serves as the President and First Secretary of his party. As of 2014 Mugabe became the only person eligible to contest for the leadership of ZANU PF party and everyone else was appointed into position by him, all those believed to be ambitious enough to want to challenge him were suspended and some expelled. It is no coincidence that in the very same manner, Kim created a personality cult around himself and loyalty to him became a pre-requisite to holding a party position or a public office.

At the 6th Workers' Party Congress his son Kim Jong Il consolidated party control though his father's personality cult and became the de facto leader and successor.  At this point a Zimbabwean political analyst can to a certain degree conclude that Robert Mugabe is a student of Kim Il Sung. At the ZANU PF 6th National People's Congress the wife of Robert Mugabe mobilised party support and emerged the Women's League National Secretary and de facto leader of the entire party, as slogans pronouncing her greatness were chanted throughout the congress.
   
Scenario One

The son of Kim Il Sung became President of North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, and he was also succeeded by his son Kim Jong Un. Observing the life and politics of Kim Il Sung provides us with a high likelihood that Grace Mugabe is being prepared to take over the leadership of ZANU PF and that of Zimbabwe and ultimately creating a Mugabe Presidential Monarchy.

Ho Chi Minh was the leader of Vietnam from 1945 to 1969, his rule claimed 1.7 million lives. Unlike Kim Il Sung, Ho Chi Minh stepped down from the helm of his country but remained an inspiration to his successors. Like Mugabe and Kim, he was Prime Minister for the first 10 years of his rule then became President for the remainder of his rule. Minh is the founding father of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and he played a central role in the formation of the Viet Cong popularly known as the People's Army of Vietnam, this was the army that fought for the independence of Vietnam.  Before the independence of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe became the commander of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) which fought together with Joshua Nkomo's   Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA); jointly they defeated the white minority Rhodesian army. This made Robert Mugabe a national hero if not continental and increased his popularity.

His popularity have recently become a subject of interest for scholars, of many things that he is accused to have done all have been proven excerpt the election rigging.  Therefore it stands to reason that election rigging accusations are nothing beyond opposition parties failing to explain his popularity. Just like Ho Chi Minh he is the founding father of Zimbabwe and a popular political figure.

Ho Chi Minh died in September 1969 from heart failure at his home in Hanoi, aged 79. His embalmed body is currently on display in a mausoleum in Ba Đình Square in Hanoi despite his will stating that he wanted to be cremated.  A few years after his death the Saigon one of the major cities in Vietnam was renamed Ho Chi Minh city.

One of his trusted lieutenants Phạm Văn Đồng succeeded him as the leader of Vietnam, Pham retired and was succeeded by another party cadre Phạm Hùng.

At the ZANU PF 6th National People's Congress Mugabe appointed the then Secretary for Legal Affairs Emmerson Mnagwagwa as his Vice President. For the previous decade suspicions were that Mnangagwa had ambitions to succeed Mugabe and that was also Mugabe's desire. The promotion confirmed the suspicions. Mnangagwa and Mugabe have always been very close to the extent that at some point Mnangagwa was Mugabe's personal body guard. Therefore making him the President's most trusted lieutenant.
   
Scenario two

At 91 Mugabe might soon be incapable of executing his duties as President, therefore pushing him to retire like Ho Chi Minh and appoint a successor of his choice which will highly likely be his most trusted lieutenant Emerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa's role will be to ensure that Mugabe's memory lives for ever as it will help perpetuate ZANU PF propaganda. It wouldn't be shocking that when he dies they will embalm his body and keep it in a museum.

Part 2 coming soon ………

Shephard Dube is the National Organising Secretary of the MDC Youth Assembly writing in his Personal Capacity, contactable by email on shepharddube10@gmail.com