The political realms of Mali and Zimbabwe, though geographically distant, share eerie reverberations of military coups and tyrannical inclinations. Within a brief span of three years, Mali witnessed two coups, setting a grim precedent mirrored in Zimbabwe’s power corridors. Although neither Mnangagwa nor Mugabe share Malian roots, the spectre of military coups links their political narratives to the West African nation.
The prime mover in this plot is power’s pervasive allure, fuelling a tyrannical political system. In Zimbabwe’s case, the party Zanu pf becomes the epicentre of this unfolding drama. Under the spotlight is the second secretary, Mnangagwa, who usurped power from the first secretary, Mugabe, allegedly involved in quashing any rising contenders within the party ranks. This manoeuvre not only underscores the party’s tyrannical persona but also unveils a dangerous facet – personalisation of power.
The personalisation of Zanu pf is akin to a ticking time bomb, with factionalism as the spark ready to ignite the fuse. This political quagmire cascaded into a military coup, compelling Mugabe to relinquish his decades-long grip on power, and aborting his alleged plan of establishing a dynastic reign through his wife. This tale of power and ambition sketches the blueprint of a personalised one-party state, crafted to dodge accountability and transparency.
The grim reality of Mnangagwa’s political landscape is a reflection of an insatiable quest for power, which breeds contempt and impatience among securocrats. The likes of Chiwenga and Valerio Sibanda, once cloaked in military garb, now covet the throne, fuelled by their perceived sacrifices during the liberation struggle. This simmering discontent among securocrats, coupled with their quest for immunity from past misdeeds, threatens to thrust Zimbabwe into a vicious cycle of coups, akin to Mali’s fate.
Mnangagwa’s gambit to extend Malaba’s tenure in office, despite its unconstitutional nature, unveils his attempt to sink deeper roots into the presidency. This move, reminiscent of Mugabe’s tight grip on power, signals a grave warning to contenders, and showcases Mnangagwa’s intent to cling onto power beyond 2030.
The tension brewing in Zimbabwe’s political cauldron mirrors the tumult that swept across Mali, portraying a grim tableau of what might unfurl when power is personalised, and ambitions run wild. The intertwining tales of Mnangagwa and Mugabe with the spectre of military coups looming large, echoes the dark shadows of Mali’s political saga. As the twilight of Mnangagwa’s reign approaches amidst a clime of fear and ambition, Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads, with the ghost of Mali’s coups haunting its political horizon.
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