Posts tagged Mugabe

The succession debate in Zimbabwe’s governing party Zanu PF has reached a crescendo following recent revelations by the country’s First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe (52) that President Robert Mugabe should now name his successor and any discussion on the issue should involve Mugabe. Zanu PF has been rocked by factional fights as two opposing groups are angling to succeed the 93 year-old who has been at the helm since the country’s independence in 1980. One faction is widely thought to be led by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa (74) and the rival group, G40 (Generation 40) is believed to enjoy the backing of the First Lady. Grace Mugabe has previously said Mugabe’s corpse could rule even from the grave. Elections are due in July next year.

Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, has donated 300 cows to raise money for the Africa Union (AU) Foundation to help stop dependance on foreign aid funding. President Mugabe handed a $1 million cheque to the AU after the cattle were sold in Zimbabwe. The cheque was handed to the AU at its leaders’ summit in Ethiopia, and Pres Mugabe said his friends helped contribute to the noble cause to help end AU’s aid dependancy. However, President Mugabe’s donation has been met with strong criticism considering that the gift comes amid a severe cash crisis in Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari (74) recently returned to the U.K. for medical treatment, his fourth visit to the U.K. for treatment since his election in 2015. In the same week Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (93), flew to Singapore for a “routine medical check-up”. Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos (74) has reportedly also been undergoing medical treatment in Spain. These cases have stirred debate around medical tourism. Health care systems in many African countries are inadequately funded. There are arguments that our African presidents need to lead by example, and ensure that healthcare systems in their countries improve to match or surpass the foreign countries they so much love to visit.

Emmanuel Macron was elected president of France on Sunday defeating Marine Le Pen (48), a far-right nationalist. Macron’s win has been met with a global sense of relief, across Africa, the 39 year-old’s election has elicited mixed reactions. Macron is France’s youngest leader since Napoleon. Yearning for renewal, and generational political change in their respective countries, Africa’s young people have taken to social media, drawing parallels between the young French leader, whose win has shaken the country’s political landscape with African leaders who continue to cling on to power.

South Africa’s Police Minister Fikile Mbalula’s recent controversial comments that former Zimbabwean soldiers are illegally entering the country to rob and kill have caused a storm. Mbalula’s recent comments are against what we as Southern Africans and Africans in general, consider an organic and post liberation progressive Pan Africanism, writes Takura Zhangazha

Zimbabweans go to the polls next year for general elections, which are scheduled to be held on or before 31 July. Takura Zhangazha explores six key tasks for Zimbabwe’s opposition parties for 2018 elections and beyond.

Parents in Zimbabwe who cannot raise tuition fees for their children can offer livestock such as goats as payment or offer their skills to the schools, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora recently revealed. Dr Dokora was quoted by local press saying, “On the issue of livestock, the community has to arrange a market where everyone participates; from the school authorities, local leadership and parents themselves to avoid parents being duped.” The country is currently going through a crippling cash crisis, and efforts by the Central Bank to ease the liquidity crunch have been fruitless. The livestock-for-fees proposal has been met with mixed emotions in the country, and on social media, welcomed by some but heavily criticised by others as a desperate move.

Today Zimbabwe celebrates its independence, attained on this day in 1980. We commemorate the 37th anniversary of the independence of Zimbabwe from British colonial rule. Happy Independence Day to our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe turn 93 today. One of the world’s longest serving leaders, Gushungo (his totem), as he is affectionately known shows no sign of slowing down. While his party Zanu-PF has been rocked by infighting and nasty succession battles, Mugabe has indicated that he will not groom a successor but a successor will come from the people. Until “the people” choose a successor, the 93 year-old will represent the party in presidential polls next year.

The American comedy show, ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL) has been having a decent go at President Donald Trump. In a comedy sketch featuring Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump and Robert Mugabe portrayed by Kenan Thompson, ‘Trump’ calls the Zimbabwean ‘president’ and tells him, ‘This is the new sheriff in town’. Takura Zhangazha looks at the meanings of the Trump/Mugabe comparison and the various perspectives on the relationship between Zimbabwe and the U.S.