Coup Coup
- Ulysses
- Nov 16, 2017
- 2 min read
It seems the Zimbabwean military has taken over government control, ousting President Robert Mugabe and locking down the city. It is said that tension rose when Mugabe suddenly ousted his longtime vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
There has been turmoil inside the Mugabe administration for decades, where alleged scandal and apparent corruption have seemed to grow roots and attach itself to it. The finger pointing and targets of investigation have involved both Mnangagwa and the president’s wife Grace Mugabe. Rumors have swirled enveloping the president in a battle to fight allegations that his wife has cheated on him repeatedly throughout the years.
The first article I read surfaced in 2010 when she was accused of sleeping with the head of the reserve bank, and close friend of her husband, Gideon Gono. There have been several more since then and a spokesman for the president said he was planning to fight the allegations. Mrs. Mugabe has also said to be ruthless and surrounding herself with thieves who are concerned with enriching themselves.
Mnangagwa has his own share of accusations, where some still wish for him to be brought up on charges of past crimes. He was accused of orchestrating the “Gukurahundi” massacre of Zanu-PF’s political opponents in the 1980s. Thousands of civilians from the Ndebele ethnic group were killed, a claim he has denied. Opposition parties also accused him of helping to organize election-related violence and to rig Zimbabwe’s 2008 poll in Mr. Mugabe’s favor. Mnangagwa (nicknamed the crocodile) and Mugabe fought together in the 1970’s liberation of Zimbabwe and rose to power together in hopes to strengthen the Zimbabwe economy.
It is said that Mnangagwa has made an honest effort to restore Zimbabwe, but has had strong opposition from Grace and others. It has been widely known that there has been corruption inside the administration and that there needed to be a purge of those just in it for their benefit.
Mnangagwa was exiled last week but returned once the military, led by General Constantino Chiwenga, took over and secured Mugabe in his home. The two are said to be close and similar in ideology that will hopefully strengthen their economy. He is expected to be sworn in as vice president next month.
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