The current economic, social and political crisis we are facing as a nation is a manifestation of President Mnangagwa’s failure to read the 2017 political situation. If President Mnangagwa had successfully interpreted the political dynamics Zimbabwe could have turned into a great economy giant.
Zimbabwe in 2017 needed a unifier, a nation builder, a statesman, a great strategist and above all true democrat. Mnangagwa seemed far from all those. He was drowned by power and failed to swim across the sweetness of power.
In 2017 he started by promising to be totally different from Mugabe. He shown some brilliant light rays of a bright future. He promised to democratize the nation for the better of everyone.
His first speech upon his arrival from self imposed exile gave hope. He promised jobs! Jobs!! Jobs!! Jobs! and more jobs!. The nation’s millions of unemployed youths were impressed.
His speech on sanctions on the day took a total tangent from Mugabe. Instead of blaming the Western world’s sanctions Mnangagwa was different. He questioned the reasons why those sanctions were imposed. He promised to iron out the bad governance issues which caused the imposition of the sanctions. His policy was positive engagement rather than confrontational. He wanted to be the shining example of democracy in Southern Africa.
Mugabe was a hater of the Western World that’s why he introduced the “Look East Policy”. Mnangagwa advocated the “Look around policy” and “Zimbabwe Open for Business” policies. He showed that he was an advocate for change.
Although Mnangagwa started so well in advocating for change he missed his compass on the political field. Mnangagwa never changed the Zanu PF’s political culture of violence, hate, segregation, racism, anti accommodation and bullying of opposition. This is the opportunity Mnangagwa squandered to turn himself into a statesman and turnaround the economy.
Mnangagwa could have been a hero if he had accommodated other politicians into his administration. However, he thought Patrick Chinamasa, Obert Mpofu, Kembo Mohadi, Sthembiso Nyoni, Oppah Muchinguri etc would be of great value to Zimbabwe. These old, clueless directionless and exhausted minds surrounded him in cabinet. The first five years of his reign gave and layed a disastrous foundation of his rule.
Later Mnangagwa tried to correct by appointing young ministers but it was too late. The perception of the nation and international had already discarded Mnangagwa as religious follower of his great teacher Mugabe. The hymn which was being sang in political world was “Mnangagwa is the same as Mugabe or even worse”. Zanu PF propaganda tried to distance itself from Mugabe but the conclusion was in deeds and speech by the President.
Mnangagwa had failed to shed off the Zanu PF mentality that Zimbabwe belonged to them alone and the rest of citizens were strangers. Mnangagwa failed to turn Zanu PF government for everyone. It was a government for Zanu PF supporters only. Being different in opinion did not make others more important citizens. Mnangagwa still tried to preach the silly Mugabe gospel that patriotism was embedded in Zanu PF. Zanu PF supporters labelled everyone opposed to Zanu PF as “Pasi nemutengesi”. Mnangagwa maintained the same culture in ZanuPF.
Mnangagwa should have enforced the 2013 Constitution provisions on hate speech. Zanu PF slogans still had the worst hate language but he failed to improve it. MDC had “Rovera pasi!” whilst Zanu PF had liberation struggle hate slogans “Pasi na….” . Mnangagwa never saw nothing wrong with such nasty divisive political slogans. He missed the chance to unity the nation.
Mnangagwa will be remembered as politicians who failed to use the opportunity to build a great new Zimbabwe. A new great Zimbabwe for everyone. A new great Zimbabwe with hope, love and a culture of respect and unity.
🇿🇼☝🏿🇿🇼 Patriotic Papa JC speaks when things are not good for citizens who want better change in Zimbabwe.
