‘Sad’ ending of Mugabe should rekindle democracy and prosperity – John Mahama

• Posted on November 22, 2017
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Former President John Mahama says he expects the resignation of Robert Mugabe as President of Zimbabwe to revive democracy and prosperity in the southern African nation.

The 93-year-old Mugabe who had initially refused to cede power, voluntarily resigned Tuesday to abruptly end an impeachment hearing that was backed by his own Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party. Former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa will succeed Mr Mugabe, and is due to be sworn in within 48 hours. Mugabe was accused of allowing his wife, Grace Mugabe, to “usurp constitutional power” by trying to position her as his successor, the BBC reported.

His resignation came days after the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party fired him as its leader and ordered him to step down. The resignation brings to an end his 37-year rule of the nation that is reportedly in tatters economically.

Reports suggest estimated 95 per cent of the workforce is unemployed, public infrastructure is crumbling and there are widespread shortages of cash and food. Many of the country’s woes are rooted in Mugabe’s support for the seizure of white-owned farms, which slashed agricultural production, export earnings and tax revenue, the Independent reported Tuesday. Commenting on the developing political situation in Zimbabwe, former President Mahama described Mugabe’s ending as sad but said history will remember him kindly.

“A sad ending for a liberation hero, a patriot and a great Pan Africanist,” he tweeted a few hours after Zimbabwe’s Speaker of Parliament read Mugabe’s resignation letter “I pray the dramatic events of November serve as a reboot for democracy and prosperity in #Zim [Zimbabwe]. History will remember Comrade Mugabe kindly,” Mr. Mahama added.

A sad ending for a liberation hero, a patriot and a great Pan Africanist. I pray the dramatic events of November serve as a reboot for democracy and prosperity in #Zim. History will remember Comrade Mugabe kindly. pic.twitter.com/CZPKCOpccZ

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) November 21, 2017

By Stephen Kwabena Effah