Mugabe, political enigma, keeps them guessing 

By Levi Obijiofor 

Friday, 4 April 2008 

There were mouth-watering speculations this week that Robert Mugabe, the foxy and ageing president of Zimbabwe, was locked in negotiations with opposition groups that would possibly force him to concede defeat in last weekend’s presidential election and to step down from his presidential throne. Those who relied on the rumour to kick-start early celebrations to mark the end of Mugabe’s iron grip on Zimbabwe’s political landscape certainly under-estimated the man’s obstinacy and his capacity for political grandstanding and mischief.  

Whether or not Mugabe steps down as president, he has already inflicted incalculable damage on his country’s economy, the health system and the living standards of the people. If and if Mugabe is forced to go, it would signal a humiliating and humbling end to the political career of a man who brought pain and poverty to his country. Zimbabweans would be smacking their lips at the news of Mugabe’s demise. But it may all be misplaced optimism.  

Mugabe doesn’t give up easily. Certainly, for the past 28 years, he was used to having things done his own way. That’s why he has shut his ears to all forms of advice and developed absolute contempt for western leaders -- his adversaries. His kamikaze or suicidal leadership style has seen him drive to the ground his country’s economic resources. A country once renowned as the food basket of southern Africa has now become the basket-case of Africa and the rest of the world. In Zimbabwe, the political arena has been whittled down to solo performance by Mugabe’s one-man soul train. Things have really fallen apart in Zimbabwe, no thanks to Mugabe’s maniacal and delusional management style.  

In Zimbabwe’s political history, Mugabe’s name stands for cruelty, corruption and greed. His epitaph, written long before he contemplated relinquishing political power, reads thus: “Here lies the carcass of a brutal dictator who dragged his country and region defiantly into the international hall of infamy.” But Mugabe really doesn’t need to worry or care how history would record his ghastly political career. Why should he? He has good company among other African dictators of repute.  

Mugabe’s brothers in dictatorship are scattered all over the African continent. In Cote d’Ivoire, Félix Houphouët-Boigny ruled for 33 years. In Togo, Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled for 38 years. In Zaire, Mobutu Sese Seko reigned for 32 years. In Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda held court for 27 years. In Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi reigned for 24 years. In Benin Republic, Mathieu Kérékou ruled for 19 years. And in Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, the man who took on the title of emperor, turned himself into a human gorilla and tormented his people and the media.  

Within the African Union, Mugabe sits delicately like a political hot potato or a loose cannon, something you don’t know how to handle or when it would go off. At home and abroad, Mugabe is viewed as a political enigma, difficult to predict and even harder to contain.  

There are many lessons to be learned from the parable of Mugabe. The first lesson is about the impermanence of political power. Mobutu Sese Seko believed for 32 years that he would live and die with the state known as Zaire. But he found out later that the state, indeed every state, would live long after dictators have come and gone. Nature has ensured that every dictator has a “use-by” date, that is, an expiry date. When it is time to quit, African dictators must quit or be forced out by a combination of forces. Our own Olusegun Obasanjo found out painfully, when he tried to extend his tenure unconstitutionally through political guile, that Nigerians and the National Assembly won’t be fooled by one man’s juvenile tricks.  

Last weekend’s parliamentary and presidential elections in Zimbabwe have shown that Mugabe has exhausted his game plan. He can’t pull off more white pigeons from his bag of tricks. By contesting the presidential election which would have seen him extend his rule for a sixth term, Mugabe tried desperately to defy nature and to thwart the will of the Zimbabwean people. Before the recent elections, he has ruled for 28 years, thus giving the impression that the Zimbabwean state was for him to do as he pleased.  

During the long and forgetful period of his grisly regime, Mugabe defied everyone. He suppressed political opposition and even applied diabolical means to silence those he perceived as his greatest threats. His endless regime was sustained by intimidation, constant arrests, illegal imprisonment, gross human rights abuses and suppression of press freedom. Over the years, his presidency wore the shameless badge of executive corruption. During his time, Zimbabweans were denied what the citizens of other democratic countries took for granted – the benefits of true democratic experience.  

The tragedy of Mugabe is that, for the period of his dictatorship, African leaders failed to confront him, under the comfortable excuse that no one should meddle in the internal affairs of another sovereign country. A handful of African leaders who tried to engage Mugabe in diplomatic dialogue in order to resolve the Zimbabwean political gridlock were snubbed.  

Angered by growing cases of human rights abuses and political intolerance in Zimbabwe, the Commonwealth of former British colonies stepped in and applied the political pill known as coercion in order to subdue Mugabe. But the Commonwealth leaders found out too that Mugabe does not understand the language of coercion, whether it was conveyed to him in English or in his vernacular language. Mugabe refused to be caged, intimidated or overthrown by regional, continental and international forces.  

The Commonwealth also administered on Mugabe another pill known as economic sanctions and that pill had an unintended effect. Mugabe walked through the sanctions with ease while his countrymen and women suffocated and the less fortunate ones were incinerated by the economic sanctions.  

As I argued in this column four years ago, Mugabe has become increasingly distrustful of everyone around him, including African political leaders. His dark fear of Western leaders has affected his relationship with African leaders. As his grip on power slips or weakens, Mugabe has adopted more tyrannical measures to quell dissent at home. Within his fractious presidency, Mugabe feels the West and indeed some African countries have conspired with his enemies to get rid of him. 

Mugabe’s problem is that he is incapable of distinguishing his friends from his enemies. More significant, he is incapable of reading the political mood in his country. Many Zimbabweans do not want him as president but Mugabe believes he can still finish in another term what he couldn’t accomplish in 28 years of authoritarian rule. Mugabe is a yesterday’s man trying to fit his nation into the Stone Age ways of doing things. He reminisces a lot about how things were done when he first came into office 28 years ago. Mugabe has failed to realise that no country can isolate itself successfully in a globalised economic and geopolitical environment. This is the reality that Mugabe continues to ignore.  

As time runs out on this tireless tyrant, Zimbabweans must be tired of listening to Mugabe’s feel-good commentaries that have so far failed to provide food on their tables for nearly three decades. It’s okay for Mugabe to stir up Zimbabweans with firebrand memories of pre-independence overthrow of British colonial forces during the so-called war of independence but to what extent would rhetoric alone solve the poverty and hunger that have wracked an entire nation?  

Robot  Villager

# 1 Mugabe, political enigma, keeps them guessing ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 03.04.2008 22:51

BABA FOR LIFE  Villager

# 2 Regardless of what you think of Mugabe the bigger question is the semlance of a smooth election and so far votes actually counting. This we are still to achive in Nigeria. So hate him or hate him he has one a head of Nigeria where votes mean absolutly nothing and elections are stolen outright and nobody seems to care or mind. Posted by BABA FOR LIFE| 03.04.2008 23:20

126Soldier  Villager

# 3 You have largely expressed you inability to process information you constanatly inhale from the western media and chorographed assault on the inteligence of Africans. You are not alone as a an historical autistic child who grew up and jumped into conclusion on isuues without following historical developments of same. It will be useful for people like you to understand that the western powers have helped to keep Mugabe in power for longer than necessary due to there own greed and insesitivity to the plight of your fellow africans. Think of the Land liberation Struggle of ZANU PF and not Robert Mugabe. Ian Smith and his western backers (Britain, USA, Australia ets) on realising that they could no longer contend with the land liberation struggle decided to dangle carrot of Political Independence to the ZANU PF and have them agree to a grace period of 10 years of independence before the issue of land can be finally addressed. This is the 'Lancaster Agreement'. Under this agreement Britain, USA, Autralia and allies agreed that there was need to redistribute land to both Blacks and Whites in Zimbabwe. They promissed to make finances available to the Zimbawean government to facilitate the process after the 10years grace period. Unfortunately for this group the issue of apparthied in South Africa burnt too hot almost at the same period and they couldn not afford to loose on both sides in one swoop. For your information these countries were the last group to agree to end apparthied in South Africa. On the insistense of the Mugabe led Zanu PF government to abide by the Lancaster Agreement these unwholesome gang of rouge nations resorted to political and economic blackmail against Mugabe and his government hence the Economic Sanctions that has crippled the economy of Zimbabwe. The effect of this sanction is what you and your inadequately informed likes term as rseulting from Mugabe's corruption and dictatorship. Before you crucify Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF, put yourself and your hometown in the shoes of the average rural zimbabwean and the countryside where whites were unlawfully allocated thousands of hectres of arid land and the natives who originally owned the lands were forcefully relocated away from there ancestral land. Come to think of it the whites who benefited from this gross injustice were mostly British World War II vetrans.Remenber the British government went broke after executing WW II and had no funds to compensate the soldiers. They saw Zimbabwean Lands as excape route to solve thier own problems. If they had respected the agreement with Zanu PF government in Zimbabwe Mugabe and Co. wouldnt have had the reason to stick to power longer than necessary. The issue that brought them to power is the Land Liberation Struggle and untill they are sure that there fellow black Zimbabweans are proud owners of their own portions of their ancestral lands then the struggle must continue to logical conclussion even it means Mugabe remaining in power for half a century. The west wants us to beleive that any leader who is not their stooge is a corrupt dicatator.Lets count and check, Fidel Castro of Cuba: is he corrupt? how come Cubans are the most educated and moderate people on earth, is Moamar Gaddafi corrupt? how come you dont find Libyan citizens running away from their country for greener pastures? is Valdmire Putin of Russia a corrupt dictator? how come the Rusian Economy has performed very well in the last ten years? Omar Bongo a French stooge imposed on Republic of Gabon is a corrupt dictator and has enjoyed their support for more than 38 years as president. The Eyadema clan are in the same game in Togo, Paul Biya is holding sway for them in Cameroun. Peolple like you are cancers planted within the ideological evolution of Africa to retard the emncepation of the African people. It is high time you unlearned the fiction based knowledge you have acquired from the western propaganda and reason along the cardinal principles of Observation, Undersatnding, Prediction and Control. It is laziness in the pursuit of knowledge that make people digest the wrong information. Posted by 126Soldier| 04.04.2008 05:06

ILN TOO  Villager

# 4 =BABA FOR LIFE;4295001631>Regardless of what you think of Mugabe the bigger question is the semlance of a smooth election and so far votes actually counting. This we are still to achive in Nigeria. So hate him or hate him he has one a head of Nigeria where votes mean absolutly nothing and elections are stolen outright and nobody seems to care or mind. What are you talking about? do you think the votes really count in this election? the only thing that is certain is that Mugabe is past his best by date. his exit is the best thing that can happen to Zimbabwe at the moment. we must remember that there had been free and fair elections in Nigeria in the past until the evil genius from abeokuta came and masterminded what must be the most embarrassing shambles of election witnessed anywhere in the world since democracy was invented!!!. i think the man deserves to be in the Guinness book of world records for his 'achievement'. but because we are so much hated by the west, baba will not even get that!!! instead, they have chosen to consign him to the dustbin of history, which in all fairness is where he belongs. anyway, mugabe must go and he must go now. go mugabe, go. in three years' time, the most popular slogan on this site will be 'go, yar adua, go'. No more life-in-power for african despots. Posted by ILN TOO| 04.04.2008 11:13

truthsayer33  Villager

# 5 This article makes no reference to the duplicity of Tony Blair who refused to keep to the Lancaster House agreement to fund the transfer of land from white settlers to African farmers. Posted by truthsayer33| 04.04.2008 16:01

Afeni  Villager

# 6 Is the OP suggesting that Zimbabwe's current economic troubles (over 100,000% inflation) is due to mismanagement by the ruling ZANU-PF party? Was it not the same ZANU-PF, under the same leader (Mugabe), that made Zimbabwe one of the model states on the continent? Anyone that believes there is any other reason for the current economic crisis that Zimbabwe is facing other than the sanctions imposed by the west ( in retaliation for the land redistribution exercise that gave some fertile land back to their rightful black owners) is a total *****. When Abacha was murdering pro-democracy activists and politicians, the west imposed slap-on-wrist sanctions that didn't even hurt the administration. But Mugabe redistributing land from thieving white farmers was all that was needed for his nation's economy to be wrecked. I bet if he had crushed the black majority that were clamoring for land redistribution, he would be free to hold on to power (by do-or-die if need be). Posted by Afeni| 04.04.2008 17:15

No Smoking  Villager

# 7 =Afeni>....Was it not the same ZANU-PF, under the same leader (Mugabe), that made Zimbabwe one of the model states on the continent? Hmm, Afeni returns... :rolleyes: Zimbabwe was the food-basket of that region. What exactly did ZANU/PF do on the farm-land? Grabbing the land for distribution to some loyal "war veterans" only hastened the demise of that good economy. Posted by No Smoking| 04.04.2008 17:29

Afeni  Villager

# 8 =No Smoking;4295001844>Hmm, Afeni returns... :rolleyes: Zimbabwe was the food-basket of that region. What exactly did ZANU/PF do on the farm-land? Grabbing the land for distribution to some loyal "war veterans" only hastened the demise of that good economy. Are you suggesting that giving some land back to black farmers is what caused Zimbabwe's record (%100,000 inflation)? The British backed sanctions are the ONLY reason the Zimbabwean economy is suffering. For they know that should the land redistribution exercise in Zimbabwe be deemed a success, it is only a matter of time before the same occurs in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South-Africa, Mozambique and elsewhere on the continent. On this issue, Mugabe stands as the sole revolutionary against 100+ years of British inspired injustice and madness. Posted by Afeni| 04.04.2008 17:44

Auspicious  Villager

# 9 I am the last person you would call a fan of the octogenarian Zimbabwean President whom I like to call Egbon Bob, yet I can't get past the reality that even Bob, as foolishly stubborn as he presents himself, was responsible enough to run a government that could organize a somewhat credible election excercise that may threaten his 28-year old hold on power in that country. In other words, from the perspective of a tyrant, Robert Gabriel Mugabe had something to lose if he organized a credible election. Yet, the old bully didn't deploy the kind of barefaced skills at thievery that others like Olusegun Obasanjo deployed over the years in their capacities as chief executives of their respective administrations. Such is the stark difference between two leaders here. Mugabe's grieviances against what he calls the "western hegemony" are genuine and justified, but if the truth must be stated, he is just as devious as his "hegemonist" friends are. It is inhuman that Black Zimbabwe is being deprived of her natural right of land ownership in the lands of their ancestors. But a tyranical Robert Mugabe is the LAST person to lead the call for liberty and justice. Hence why some of us have always seen Mugabe as one of the biggest impediments to changing the status-quo as it affects Black Zimbabwe and her right to her God-given resources. What makes Robert Mugabe a major impediment is similar to what makes Louis Farrakhan an impediment to Barack Obama's ambition in America. Enlisting these persons will be an instant curse on those respective aspirations. The other truth is, Mr. Mugabe has outlived his relevance in Zimbabwe's affairs. At best, he should be one of many advisers to a very independent-minded incumbent leader in that country - an incumbent leader who can recieve advice and use the good part and dispose of the old, archaic ones that has to do with the rhetoric of the colonial era that Mugabe remains ossified in. Mugabe's style can't and won't work. To fight western hegemony requires a more refined carrot and stick approach. Again, I must cite the example of the Obama Campaign in America, where he is fighting entrenched interests in the political establilshment NOT with the same dirty old tricks, but with a refined style that can deal lethal blows without actually looking ruffled or dirty. Mugabe has so far played into the hands of his "hegemonist" friends - period. Robert G. Mugabe is NO political enigma, otherwise he would be more refined in his approach to issues than his usual gong-ho methods. He is just another egocentric brute who has so far gotten carried away about his own importance and relevance to Zimbabweans. His time has come and gone..and the best favor he could do for the people whose cause he claims to champion is get out of the way for a new generation of leadership to rise to power. The old style that won Zimbabwe her independence in 1980 cannot be assumed to work in 2008. Times change, problems change and approaches too must change if those who want change are interested effecting the change. That is why the Al Sharptons of America can't do what Barack Obama is doing today. It is why (apart from other serious reasons) Mugabe can't free Zimbabwe from her current strangleholds. The old style of pre-colonial militancy against what Mugabe and Co. call "western hegemony" has only given the latter an excuse at relevance when they should simply relinquish stolen birthrights to the natural-born owners. Mugabe needs to get out of the way of fighting for Black Zimbabwe's liberty just as Louis Farrakhan needed to get out of the way of Obama seeking the US presidency. Still, we recognize how Bob Mugabe makes the likes of Segun Obasanjo look like abject failures in leadership - a shameful burden for the latter to bear if he has any sense of shame or dignity. That a man who was so blessed by providence (granted the grace of leadership to deliverance from near-death in Abacha's ghouls) could end-up with such shameful legacy is horrible testament to his leadership. Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 04.04.2008 19:12

No Smoking  Villager

# 10 ....yet I can't get past the reality that even Bob, as foolishly stubborn as he presents himself, was responsible enough to run a government that could organize a somewhat credible election excercise that may threaten his 28-year old hold on power in that country. The odds were stacked against the despot. All his usual rigging machinery were placed under heavy spotlight. Even so, let's watch the rat. He has just crawled out of his hiding hole and sent his attack dogs against the opposition parties. He is desperate to win the run-off election. @Afeni As Auspy wrote: To fight western hegemony requires a more refined carrot and stick approach. In the late 70s, Nigeria found herself overtaken by Asian and Lebanese-dominated retail economy and manufacturing industry. Thanks to the Murtala-led govt, assisted by brilliant civilian economists, an Indigenisation process was put in place. There was no gra-gra to forcefully take-over the Kora-owned stalls. The process was explained to all stakeholders, and a timetable was established for the implementation. Idi Amin failed to do that in Uganda; ditto Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Posted by No Smoking| 04.04.2008 20:25

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