One month in office: Is Mnangagwa doing a good job?

World
Europe

A lot has happened in Zimbabwe since Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeded Robert Mugabe as the African country's president a month ago.

Mnangagwa, a longtime close ally of Mugabe, has focused his administration on economic recovery, called for an end to Western sanctions, and vowed to fight corruption. Meanwhile, he has given several recently retired military men high-profile political positions.

Depending on whom you speak to, you will get different opinions about the 75-year-old new president. Some call him a savior of Zimbabwe after a 37-year rule by Mugabe that resulted in economic ruin, while others remain skeptical because of his long association with his predecessor and worry about the military's growing power in Zimbabwean politics.

Locals celebrate after the swearing-in of Zimbabwe's new president Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 24, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Addressing a crowd in South Africa on Thursday during his first trip as president overseas, Mnangagwa reiterated his inaugural call for unity among all Zimbabweans. "May we together agree that bygones be bygones and look into the future with hope," he said passionately.

Dawn of a new era?

Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe's president on November 24 after a series of dramatic developments.

On November 6, 93-year-old Mugabe sacked then Vice President Mnangagwa in an attempt seen as paving the way for his wife Grace Mugabe to succeed him. Mnangagwa fled to South Africa.

Led by then Commander of Zimbabwe Defense Forces General Constantino Chiwenga, the military staged an "intervention" on November 15, which eventually led to Mugabe's resignation on November 21. Mnangagwa returned to Harare the next day to take over the country, promising his people "jobs, jobs, jobs."

Since taking office, Mnangagwa has made some policy pronouncements to back up the promise. His administration has begun peeling back key Mugabe policies including contentious indigenization laws, which had been blamed for scaring away much needed international investment.

A budget deficit in excess of 1.7 billion US dollars is unsustainably high for the cash-strapped nation and the new government has put in place a raft of cost cutting measures including banning first class travel, reducing foreign trips and delegations, laying off government workers and withdrawing vehicles for public servants.

On Thursday, Mnangagwa told reporters in Pretoria that his main focus is to revive the ailing economy and enhance cooperation with other countries. "My administration will focus on economics, and trade cooperation," he said.

Commercial farmers Rob Smart and his son Darreyn, forced out of their land in June, are welcomed back at Lesbury Estates by village elders and children at a farm in Headlands communal lands east of Harare, Zimbabwe, December 21, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Crucially, Zimbabwe's hardline stance against foreign governments that had largely isolated it is changing. Harare's new tone is of re-engagement and the message, which has been repeated on several occasions, is clear – "Zimbabwe is open for business."

There also seems to be real intent to deal with rampant corruption. Zimbabwe's new president said in a State of the Nation Address on Wednesday that there would be no "sacred cows" in his fight against the ruinous cancer.

"Every corruption case must be investigated and punished accordingly. No sacred cows. It has already begun," he vowed.

Three former cabinet ministers and several senior government and ruling party officials have been arrested in the last five weeks on charges of corruption and abuse of office, indicating Mnangagwa's willingness to back his talk with action.

Former Zimbabwean Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo (L) has been charged with corruption and criminal abuse of office. /Reuters Photo

Many Zimbabweans are beginning to believe that Mnangagwa's presidency is indeed the dawn of a new era for a once-troubled nation.

"We believe with his policies the economy of Zimbabwe will grow and we are bound to experience a better life compared to what happened during the Mugabe era," Arthur Muromba, a member of the ruling ZANU-PF party told CGTN.

Zimbabwe 'needs healing'

Though Mnangagwa's pledges have been largely welcomed, he is under criticism for doing little to engage the opposition and militarizing the government.

No member of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were included in the cabinet he announced on November 30. Instead, former general Sibusiso Moyo was made foreign minister and former air force chief Perence Shiri was named the minister of agriculture and land affairs.

Former army chief Chiwenga, who retired from the military on Monday, was appointed vice president of the ruling party on Saturday. It is widely believed that he will soon become the country's vice president.

Then Commander of Zimbabwe Defense Forces General Constantino Chiwenga looks on after the swearing-in of Emmerson Mnangagwa as Zimbabwe's new president in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 24, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"What a missed opportunity! The honeymoon is over even before it had begun. What shame!" Tendai Biti, who was finance minister in a unity government from 2009 to 2013 tweeted.

In his closing address to delegates at a recently concluded ZANU PF congress, Mnangagwa boldly told his supporters "there is no opposition to speak off," referring to the divisions that have rocked the main opposition MDC.

ZANU PF endorsed Mnangagwa as party leader and presidential candidate for Zimbabwe's general election scheduled for August 2018.

"This country needs healing and he has not talked about how we will do that," opposition Member of Parliament Nelson Chamisa told CGTN. "He has not talked about how he will engage the opposition. He has not spoken about how we will undertake electoral reforms to ensure that we have free and fair elections."

The new president has also drawn concerns due to his continuous strong relations with Mugabe. Rather than the initiator of a new era, Mnangagwa is part of the status quo in some people's eyes.

Zimbabwe's then President Robert Mugabe (R) greets then Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa during the country's Heroes Day commemorations in Harare, August 10, 2015. /Reuters Photo

In his address to the ZANU PF congress, Mnangagwa paid tribute to both Mugabe and the former army chief who forced him out.

He hailed Mugabe a party comrade "who steered the ship of our party and its government," while saluting Chiwenga "for standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow Zimbabweans."

He told South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday that Mugabe "will be looked after."

Mnangagwa, who shared legacies of the Mugabe era and owed his political resurrection to the generals, swore to "protect and promote the rights of the people of Zimbabwe" in his inaugural oath. He and his party must deliver on the desires of all Zimbabweans, lest it be punished at the polls.

10896km