Without Robert Mugabe, will Zimbabwe get better?

World
Europe

On 15th morning, as soon as my flight landed in Johannesburg, South Africa, the first message that I received on my phone was that a coup has taken place in Zimbabwe, and Robert Mugabe, 93, was under house arrest, whose power has been taken over.

Many passengers out of the first flight from Harare did not know what happened. They were surprised when interviewed randomly on the subject. A reporter told me common citizens may not feel much but the elite would be worried about their unstable society, because the power-holder in Zimbabwe has forced out elites more than once in modern history.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace attend a rally to mark the country's 37th independence anniversary in Harare, Zimbabwe, April 18, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Zimbabwe’s farmlands are fertile and serve as the bread basket in Africa. If operated smoothly, this landlocked country could be prosperous. In fact, during the 1970s and 80s, Harare was a place many people wanted to travel to.

Robert Mugabe’s power was taken over, which is a crisis of governance more than a fight for power. In recent years, the government led by Mugabe adopted “nationalization,” which made foreign investment hard. Almost all profitable businesses were highly-monopolized.

Robert Mugabe’s governance rose hackles. The Commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces General Constantino Chiwenga criticized, civil fight started in 2015 had a great impact on economic development, which made money run out and prices of goods soar.

Protesters gather calling for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down, in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 18, 2017. /Reuters Photo

There is a saying in Johannesburg that almost all thieves and robbers are from Zimbabwe, some were even in the police force before. The country is seen as a hub of organized international crime. The current crisis highlights the broken economy in Zimbabwe.

Africa has many autocrats, but they are not like Mugabe, the first and the present president. People may say, he should enjoy his life at 93, why still hold the position of president? I hear it in South Africa which explains why Mugabe likes power: The young loves women, the mid-age loves money, the old loves power. Mugabe tightly holding to his position – is it a good example of the old loving power?

According to the latest news, Mugabe is reluctant to negotiate with the military. Although he has lost many people’s sympathy, the veteran leader still has many followers. If he wants to fight he could probably influence many innocent people, which is a situation the outside world is unwilling to see.

Protesters march calling for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down in Cape Town, South Africa, November 18, 2017. /Reuters Photo

There is no use crying over spilled milk. In short term, a possible end could be for Mugabe to flee the country while declaring he will step aside. However, Zimbabwe will face a long-term problem – will the country be better without Mugabe? This is what would matter the most to the rest of the world.

Time flies, young gets old and die. This is an undeniable natural rule. Mugabe’s failure to hold his power is just a chance for him to step aside rather than a beginning of an unstable society. Without Mugabe, Zimbabwe has natural advantages as usual, which will get better with good governance in the future.

(The author is senior international desk correspondent and Chairperson of China Africa Correspondent Club.)‍