Posts tagged Mugabe

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.

Ecowas vs SADC? Against the backdrop of the key role played by Ecowas in The Gambian crisis, which led to Yahyah Jameh eventually leaving office and going into exile, Takura Zhangazha makes a comparison of Ecowas and SADC, two very different African inter-state organizations.

Police in Zimbabwe have arrested Pastor Evan Mawarire, who started #ThisFlag, a social media campaign, which encourages citizens to speak on poor governance, the ailing economy, corruption and poverty in the country. Mawarire was arrested upon his return, and he reportedly faces charges of subverting a constitutionally elected government. Mawarire’s arrest has been heavily criticized on social media, and his return has also divided opinion on various platforms.