Frank Mwebaze Mature, a lecturer at Makerere University says there has been no change in Zimbabwe and there is less to celebrate about the resignation of Robert Mugabe citing that its the same group that has remained. Mwebaze says Zimbabwe is not likely to recover because its the same group of Mugabe age mates that has taken over. He argues that unfortunately for Zimbabwe, the opposition is still weak to mobilize and accord citizens a desired change.
Lecturers at Makerere University have given disparate views on President Mugabe's resignation.
Robert Mugabe on Monday ended his 37-year rule through a resignation letter written to the Speaker of the Zimbabwean parliament, shortly after parliament began an impeachment process.
Mugabe's resignation came days after the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party fired him as its leader and ordered him to step down. Parliament had convened in a special session called to vote on a motion of impeachment of Mugabe, who at 93 was the world's oldest-serving leader.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75, who Mugabe dismissed as vice president this month, will take over as interim leader and be Zanu-PF's presidential candidate in elections next year according to the party. He will be sworn in on Friday November 24 according to the Zimbabwean parliament.
Frank Mwebaze Mature, a lecturer at Makerere University says there has been no change in Zimbabwe and there is less to celebrate about the resignation of Robert Mugabe citing that it's the same group that has remained.
Mwebaze says Zimbabwe is not likely to recover because it's the same group of Mugabe age mates that has taken over. He argues that unfortunately for Zimbabwe, the opposition is still too weak to mobilize and accord citizens a desired change.
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Mwebaze argues that there are similarities in what has happened in Zimbabwe to Uganda. He notes that he is not expecting any genuine change in Uganda either and that there is a likelihood of having the same internal changes in the ruling National Resistance Movement – NRM which is more or less the same.
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Dr. Danson Sylvester Kahyana, a Literature lecturer at Makerere University, however says what happened in Zimbabwe was a surprise and that in Africa anything can happen. He praises the Zimbabwean army for the restraint they used to deliver a peaceful change.
“I think it was a stroke of a great wisdom, of great genius of the events in Zimbabwe. I think it was the only military coup in the world where not a single loss life was recorded. And again that tells you how much people really wanted change,” Dr. Kahyana says.
Dr. Kahyana says that what happened in Zimbabwe speaks a lot about the kind of elections in the entire African continent and the percentages that African leaders win with.
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Dr. Kahyana says that what happened in Zimbabwe is likely to influence debate in parliament especially in relation to the current move by government to remove presidential age limit by amending article 102 (b) that caps it currently at 75.
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He adds that the peaceful change in Zimbabwe answers worries that many Ugandans have been advancing for violence that would erupt due to change of leadership.
“I think what happened in Zimbabwe is a gift not only in Uganda but to Africa in general. These things might be seen as small but they help give hope to citizens that maybe one time things might change in their favor,” Dr. Kahyana.
Prof Mwambusya Ndebesa, a historian at Makerere University, however warns that Zimbabweans need to carefully understand the change they are jubilating about. Prof. Ndebesa says while the going of Mugabe could might be an opportunity for the way forward for Zimbabwe, the effect of Mugabe's rule will remain for a long time since it's the same group.
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He however notes that this could lead to a birth of new political organization and coalitions that might take advantage of the current political tension which might lead to collapse of ZANU-PF.
Davidson Ndyabahika
Freelancer