Operation Restore Legacy in retro

BERNARD MPOFU

When then Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was fired by his former boss Robert Mugabe on November 6 2017, a new political game had begun in Zimbabwe.

The story of Mnangagwa’s dramatic escape from Zimbabwe with his foes in hot pursuit, has been captured albeit with contrasting yet intriguing accounts. But it is his equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s catchphrase “I will be back” that left many sitting on the edge of their seats. The dice had been cast.

A few days after seeking refuge in neighboring South Africa, Mnangagwa issued a statement boldly declaring that he would return to Zimbabwe and rule. His pursuers could have dismissed his statement as a mere bagatelle. Mugabe had become Mnangagwa’s mentor-turned-tormentor.

“I would like my fellow citizens to know that I am out of the country, and safe. My sudden departure was caused by incessant threats on my person, life and family by those who have attempted before through various forms of elimination, including poisoning,” Mnangagwa said in his statement.

“As I leave this post (VP) for now, I encourage all loyal members of the party to remain in the party, to register to vote, as we will, very soon, control the levers of power in our beautiful party and country. Let not your hearts be troubled for peace, love, unity, development and prosperity are around the corner. I will be communicating with you soon and shall return to Zimbabwe to lead you.”

Flashback, on this day images of soldiers in armored personnel carriers on the outskirts of Harare went viral. This came after the ruling party accused army chief Constantino Chiwenga of treason, a development that unsettled the military which accused Mugabe of being surrounded by a group of party heavyweights with nefarious schemes. The battle to succeed Mugabe, then the world’s oldest head of state, had entered a dangerous phase.

In the wee hours of the next day, the writing was now on the wall. Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo, who was still serving as a high-ranking army chief appeared on national television and made the famous sound bite—“the situation in this country has moved to another level.”

Moyo immediately made it clear that the military was not carrying out a coup but restoring legacy of the liberation war ethos. The military intervention was later to be named Operation restore order. As the operation continued, nationalistic songs would loop on state-controlled radio stations.

Pressure mounted on Mugabe with thousands taking to the streets while hundreds went to his mansion demanding that he steps down. During the peaceful protests soldiers mingled with civilians and selfies with the military personnel went viral on social media platforms.

Mugabe remained defiant hoping big brother would come to his rescue. Zanu PF changed its game plan and opted to move a motion of impeachment for the ageing leader whom many blamed for running down the economy. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change backed this plan.

But before his November 21 resignation, Mugabe shocked the world when he made his famous “Asante sana” boldly declaring that he was in charge and was now preparing for the party’s annual congress later in the year. Anxiety gripped the nation.

Mugabe’s resignation in the face of pressure from the military and protesters saw books being written about the dramatic events of November 2017. His resignation sparked jubilation across the country and renewed hope for a nation that had known one leader since Independence in 1980.

Veteran journalist Geoff Nyarota was first to write his own account titled—The Graceless fall of Robert Mugabe. Most recently Ray Ndhlovu became an author when he penned ‘In the Jaws of the Crocodile’.

After 37 years, Mugabe buckled to pressure and on November 24, a new executive president was ushered in.

What happened next?
On his inauguration post the military intervention, Mnangagwa promised to undertake a raft of reforms to improve Zimbabwe’s democratic values as well as grow the floundering economy.

He coined the mantra, ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ as a first step to assure investors that yesteryear policies of the old guard had been left behind.

Now one year on, Mnangagwa faces a crisis of expectations as he tries to re-write his own chapter of history. Zimbabwe’s economy is now facing rising inflation which this week soared to 20,85 percent following massive price hikes that were reported last month on the back of rising exchange rate premiums. Treasury is also grappling with an unsustainable domestic and external debt after Government overran its overdraft facility and funded most of its day to day functions using Treasury Bills.

To reverse this trend, Mnangagwa has undertaken to embark on a raft of austerity measures that will stimulate growth. He has also intensified his re-engagements efforts with multilateral and bilateral creditors in a bid to access cheap funding.

For now, Zimbabwe has to be content with some belt-tightening measures, Mnangagwa insists.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button