Will Mnangagwa succeed where Smith and Mugabe failed?

By Trevor Ncube

What name do you give to what almost always happens at the end of years of brutal repression? The thing that happens when people say, enough is enough of the gratuitous insults, political arrogance, authoritarianism, incarceration and torture? I deeply and genuinely fear we are headed firmly in that direction unless we urgently and deliberately course correct.

The Ndebele proverb: “Okungapheliyo kuyahlola,” aptly captures the essence that nothing lasts forever. The Shona version is: “Chisangaperi chinoshura.” Almost everything comes to an end, sooner or later. Empires rise and fall. Leaders rise and fall.

The late Ian Smith, Prime Minister of the then Rhodesia, once declared, “I don’t believe in majority rule ever in Rhodesia – not in a thousand years.” But 14 years later with approximately 100,000 people dead, Zimbabwe welcomed majority rule.

Ensconced in power for 37 years, the late Robert Mugabe said, “Only God, who appointed me, will remove me – not the MDC, not the British. I am the leader of the people, and I will never, never, never, never surrender.” A Zanu-PF faction with the help of the army and egged on by cheering multitudes eventually removed Mugabe, before God did.

One would have thought having forcibly removed Mugabe from office Mnangagwa would be alive to the dangers of repression as a tool for extended political tenure. Mnangagwa’s conduct betrays the fact he is well aware he is unpopular after the 2017 coup and the stolen 2023 election. He is not even attempting to win the hearts and minds of the people.

Zimbabwe feels like a political pressure cooker right now with the high risk of a blowout. Instead of addressing the issues causing the volatile, tense and unstable political environment, the regime risks blowback by upping the heat. The arrogance with which this is being done is utterly astounding.

The secret sauce to repression is that a little bit of it needs more of it to sustain it. Dictators only know how to start and maintain this vicious cycle. The end to dictatorships is always predictable and unavoidable. Karma always strikes tyrants in the end.

There is no doubt that political activists and civil society were planning protests in the run-up to and during the SADC Heads of State Summit in Harare. This is all part of the legitimate tension between the government and other actors in any democracy.

Given the damage to property and loss of life witnessed from previous protests there is a heavy burden of responsibility for those organizing protests, to ensure they are peaceful. The role of the police is to protect both the public and protestors alike.

Someone once said: “Public protests in a democracy constitute the highest form of patriotism.” The Mnangagwa regime is acutely insecure and sees a potential coup in any expression of discontent.

The heavy-handed response to planned protests by the regime has done tremendous damage to their vacuous mantra of being open for business and serious about international re-engagement. It has exposed Mnangagwa’s instinct towards brute force and repression.

Repressive regimes rarely convert to being tolerant and democratic. And yet the suffering masses sometimes do get to a point where doing nothing about their circumstances is as painful as the price of fighting for their freedom. When that fine line is crossed there is no guarantee of what comes next. History is littered with examples of spontaneous expression of dissatisfaction followed by extended periods of social and political instability.

Zimbabwe has been in crisis for too long. The country needs statesmen right now to steer it towards nation building and away from instability and chaos; statesmen who understand the threat of this political pressure cooker exploding if polarisation and rising tensions are not reduced.

Leaders must recognise that the current absence of a shooting war in Zimbabwe does not amount to peace. Genuine peace requires addressing underlying issues such as poverty, political gridlock, repression and corruption. The fear and the tension are palpable. This environment is not conducive to economic development and prosperity.

So, what must be done?

All political leaders, ruling party and opposition, the church and civil society must call for a conference of all stakeholders to begin the heavy lifting work of nation building and durable peace. This all-stakeholders summit is not about personalities or who stole the last election. The meeting should be about how to build a durable and vibrant society where citizens give off their best and reap the rewards. Citizens should feel sufficiently confident that future generations will prosper in this country.

The focus must be on strengthening the culture of the rule of law and constitutionalism at political party and national levels. Building inclusive and resilient national institutions must be high on the agenda of the all-stakeholders conference.

Zimbabweans need to start talking to each other to create an outlet for the current high levels of fear, toxicity and intolerance. Police batons and teargas don’t build a nation. Dialogue, communication, compromise and consensus are the stuff that build resilient and prosperous nations.

Instead of the current talk of a third term for Mnangagwa he could secure his legacy by initiating tolerance and democracy within the ruling Zanu-PF party itself and the entire country. He could ensure that Zimbabwe fully reverts to the 2013 constitution before the end of his current and final term in office.

Mnangagwa could secure his legacy by calling for an all-stakeholders’ conference to initiate far-reaching political and economic reforms that would give birth to the Zimbabwe we thought independence in 1980 would deliver. These reforms, initiated by Zimbabweans for the benefit of Zimbabweans, include free and fair elections, freedom of assembly and speech, sanctity of life, an independent judiciary and a security sector that is subject to the laws of the land.

All repressive laws must be repealed to undergird genuine peace in the country. All the above would be a firm foundation for economic reforms that would then attract local and foreign investments to fuel economic growth and prosperity.

Dream on, I hear you say.

I would rather that than more of the same from Zanu-PF and the opposition at the risk of a spontaneous uprising. I don’t see any other way that would bring about course correction in the ruling party, the opposition and the rest of society.

Zimbabwe needs courageous and selfless citizens to re-imagine and rebuild a nation out of the mess we have collectively created. Let us reject toxicity, provincialism, mediocrity and reach higher for our better angels.

Trevor Ncube is Chairman of Alpha Media Holdings and host of In Conversation With Trevor. This is an excerpt from the weekly Newsletter .
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In Conversation With Trevor

In Conversation with Chief Dakamela

Chief Dakamela, the 29 year Nkayi District Chief explores the complexities associated with being a young leader of such a huge community. He talks about the challenges faced by the district and the developmental projects he has initiated.Watch his episode here..

Audience Responses

Chief Dakamela episode, our community had this to say:

@Gugulunga:

My Chief! Happy to be tuned in. Making us proud as always. Siyazigqaja ngawe

@zuzemoyo7696:

This modernising and transforming of traditional culture is admirable. Leadership par excellence. Siyabonga Nkosi yethu baba Dakamela UMVELINQANGI kasixhwase imbono yethu ifezeka igijime ngenyawo. Vision is prayer which is soon realised . Let’s think outside the box and take responsibility into our own hands . Let’s do things for ourselves and empower ourselves. With this informed leadership the future is in our hands . Thanks Trevor for these programmes. God bless

@TimeMthokozisiGumbo_ZW:

Such wisdom at the age of 29! I’m in awe. But kubuhlungu okwenzakala eNkayi, ngiyesaba ukukhuluma kakhulu… Asazi

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