Zimbabweans and indeed the rest of the world heaved a sigh of relief on November 21 as the world’s oldest serving president, Robert Gabriel Mugabe resigned, thus ending his 37 years clinging onto power.
The 93-year-old met his downfall in an attempt to position his wife, Grace Mugabe, to succeed him. To achieve this ignominy, he sacked his vice president, Emerson Mnangagwa.
The sacking of the vice president upset Zimbabweans and angered the military hierarchy who had to step in and ease out the aging president, out of office, peacefully.
Mugabe’s life story can be seen as that of a man, who fell from grace to grass. As a war hero, he led a bloody guerrilla war against the white colonial rulers of Rhodesia and was jailed for 10 years. After serving his jail term, he continued the struggle and in April 1980, Zimbabwe gained her independence.
Admittedly, he did well in his early years as president.
His political dynasty and larger than life posture started to crumble when he decided to perpetuate himself in power. By the time he finally left office, more than 80 per cent of the youth population of the country were unemployed.
The 93-year-old has not only overstayed his welcome, but has nothing to offer anymore in terms of leadership.
When the military seized power in what seems like a coup, it became obvious that the era of the man, who had for decades dominated every aspects of Zimbabwean public life, would come to an end.
Mugabe has joined the likes of Idi Amin of Uganda and Yahya Jamneh of the Gambia as sit-tight leaders and despots, who never wanted to relinquish power.
To many Zimbabweans, the resignation of Mugabe is hitherto seen as good riddance to bad rubbish.
- The reader is a public analyst and social commentator
