Dr Alex Magaisa, of Kent Law School and a former adviser to the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, comments on the current situation in Zimbabwe which he describes as ‘tense and uncertain.’
(First published 16 November)
‘After 37 years in power, the country’s leader Robert Mugabe, a controversial and divisive figure, is on the verge of losing his presidency after the military generals seized power on 15 November 2017. This was the culmination of an intense battle between President Mugabe’s young wife, Grace and his long-time subordinate, Emmerson Mnangagwa who was the country’s Vice President until he was sacked on 6 November 2017.
‘This left Grace in a strong position to succeed her husband, a prospect that was strongly opposed by many people in the country, including the military generals who are Mnangagwa’s allies.
‘They first issued a warning on 13 November 2017, saying they would take drastic measures. When Mugabe snubbed them, the military rolled tanks into the capital Harare and within 24 hours, they had seized the national broadcaster and announced that they had taken charge.
‘They have insisted that it is not a coup but that is really what it is. Mugabe himself is under house arrest. The only reason why they are not calling it a coup is because they know it would be hard to sell to the world. Right now, they are trying to get Mugabe to step down with some dignity.
‘However, should he refuse they may explore other options, including using Parliament to impeach him. South Africa has stepped in to help resolve the crisis. The regional body, SADC, is having an emergency summit to deal with the crisis.
‘The likely outcome is that this will mark the end of Mugabe’s era and a new transitional authority might be established. It will be easier to win acceptance and legitimacy in the community of nations.
It could be the start of a new era for Zimbabwe, but it’s important to tread with caution because the people who are removing Mugabe are the same people who have backed him for 37 years. Whether they have truly reached a Damascene moment remains to be seen.’
Alex Magaisa, teaches and researches public law at Kent Law School. He is a former Chief of Staff and adviser to the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai and member of the team that drafted the Constitution of Zimbabwe. A well-known voice in Zimbabwean legal and political circles, Alex has maintained a blog on constitutional and political issues in Zimbabwe and is regularly called by both domestic and international media for his opinions. He is also regularly invited to the African Commission’s High Level Dialogue events on governance.