President Robert Mugabe's deputy and longtime ally Emmerson Mnangagwa has been fired. First Lady Grace Mugabe, who had called for him to go, is now a step closer to becoming the next vice president.
Image: Getty Images/A. Joe
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Emmerson Mnangagwa, long seen as Mugabe's most likely successor, was sacked on Monday (06.11.2017). His dismissal was widely expected after political rallies outmaneuvered over the weekend, at which President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace hinted at the possibility. Announcing the dismissal, Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo said Mnangagwa had exhibited traits of disloyalty, disrespect and deceitfulness.
The First Lady had openly called for the dismissal of Mnangagwa on the grounds that he was dividing the party and harboring ambitions to succeed her 93-year-old husband. She has made no secret out of wanting to replace Mnangagwa in the vice-presidency. Grace Mugabe is also pushing for the party's constitution to be amended at an extraordinary congress planned for December to reserve the Party's leadership for a woman, who would then be nominated presidential candidate. Or, in her own words: "If all people do not want disciplinary action to be taken against Mnangagwa, I am going to stand alone. If you see yourself going against the chosen leadership, you are gone and finished."
Zimbabweans are worried
President Robert Mugabe seems to have done his wife's biddingImage: Getty Images/AFP/J. Njikiziana
Ordinary Zimbabweans are very worried about the escalating succession fights. One man told DW Africa: "It is a curse in that the focus is no longer on economic issues or on stabilizing the situation. People are suffering. The whole dynasty program Mugabe has … we want something new for a change.
Another man also voiced his disappointment: "We were hoping to see people in government and the ruling party more united than before. When the First Lady comes into power, which is most likely, we must brace ourselves for more chaos. I don't think this is good for our economy."
Critics say Grace's rise to power is harmful to Zimbabwe, not least because of her legendary love for acquiring property. Civil rights activist Linda Masarira says she fears the worst: "It will be a mockery to the intelligence of Zimbabweans to have Grace Mugabe as Vice President of this country, let alone the President of this country."
Not good for the country
People have taken to the streets of Zimbabwe to protest the dire state of the economyImage: Reuters/P.Bulawayo
Masarira believes the situation is already difficult because of the First Lady's acquisitiveness, which does not stop before national assets. Imagine then "what will happen if she takes over the reins of power. She has shown us in the very little space and power she had and the very little power that she has that she is power hungry and just want to amass all the wealth she can get," Masarira told DW Africa.
One person seems unfazed by all the infighting to succeed the president: Robert Mugabe himself. The nonagenarian head of state and longest-serving president on the African continent wants to run again in elections in 2018. And he seems determined to crush all attempts to resist his hold on power.
Can protests lead to political change in Zimbabwe?
Protests are becoming common in Zimbabwe. Once known as Africa’s breadbasket, the country's economy is struggling with no money to pay salaries. Protesters are now using hastags to demand for a change of leadership.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Z. Auntony
#BeatThePot campaign - Women in Action
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, was the scene of demonstrations on July 16. Hundreds of women demonstrated against President Mugabe's government by beating pots, symbolizing a nation facing starvation and economic hardships. "What we are saying here is we are putting more fire on a pot that is already boiling. We want that pot to boil until Mugabe goes," they chanted in the streets.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Z. Auntony
#ThisFlag campaign - The cleric and the flag
Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean pastor, started #ThisFlag campaign in April 2016. He demanded that President Robert Mugabe fire corrupt cabinet ministers and scrap plans to introduce local bank notes. On July 6, Mawarire called for a nationwide shutdown of the country,in protest of economic hardships. Most Zimbabweans stayed home while foreign banks and most businesses in the capital stayed closed.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/T.Mukwazhi
Minibuses and Cab drivers strike
July 4, minibus drivers and others held their own protest against police harassment. Many were young men who can't find regular employment and make a living off drivers by charging a small fee to load passengers into minibuses. The drivers' grievances stemed from anger over numerous roadblocks that police set up in city streets which drivers alleged were to demand bribes.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Njikizana
"Mugabe must go"
Pressure has been mounting on President Mugabe to step aside amid a crisis that threatens to plunge the country into a further economic abyss. Anger is rising over high unemployment, corruption in government and shortages of money, which has seen people spending hours in bank queues to withdraw their money. Not more than $50 (45 Euros) can be withdrawn from Automated Teller Machines (ATMS) daily.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Njikizana
Old but not tired
The vsibly frail Robert Mugabe has in the past unleashed his brutal security forces to crack down on any public show of dissent during his 36 years in power. He has remained defiant amid all the economic woes that Zimbabwe is going through. With strained relations with the west, his Asian allies like China and Singapore are not willing to offer much needed aid.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Ufumeli
A broken economy
Zimbabwe’s coffers are virtually empty. Hyper inflation aggravated by a drought has further crippled the country’s economy. Little help has come from the West due to sanctions on the country’s top leadership because of vote rigging and human rights abuses. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also froze its support in 1999 after Zimbabwe defaulted on loans.
Image: AFP/Getty Images
Reluctant financial institutions
Without being able to secure any foreign credit Zimbabwe is seeking to clear $1.8 billion in arrears to the IMF, the African Development Bank and the World Bank in a bid to unlock new funding. Mugabe's government needs to resolve issues of governance, accountability, transparency and carry out economic reforms before these financial institutions ca issue further credit.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Lo Scalzo
No end in sight
Once the breadbasket of southern Africa, Zimbabwe is a shadow of itself. With poor harvests and a prolonged drought, more protests are expected in the coming days to highlight the issue of unemployment among university graduates. In the last presidential campaign, Mugabe promised two million jobs for graduates. Until now that promise has not been fulfilled.
