A Dictator Departs

After 37 years rule of Rob-ert Mugabe, the Presi-dent of Zimbabwe had to finally climb down from the apex position.

- Bhrigu Talukdar

Probably one of those rulers who rose as a hero then became a villain in the long run, Mugabe had come to power in year 1980 which was a year of reckoning for Zimbabwe. It was quite some time now that Mugabe had been under the scanner. So much so that his mode of governance was seen to be more and more dictatorial in nature even if Zimbabwe claimed to be a democracy. And to be candid about it there was not much indication that this was about to change for the Zimbabweans. At the same time the machinations and actions of Mugabe was making him more and more unpopular among both the masses and the public institutions of Zimbabwe. His party, the parliament and the Army were becoming more and more restive of his actions.

The last few years of Mugabe’s regime have not been a very comforting one for Zimbabwe. Mugabe was the all powerful man in its politics with no one there to challenge his authority. The Economy of Zimbabwe was virtually in ruins and so on. But as he was getting old and his second in rung Emerson Mnangagwa was getting ready to replace him, Mugabe’s wife Grace Mugabe tried to pave her way to power using their lackeys in the parliament. It was then when the political balance of Zimbabwe reached a tipping point and the political moves fell like dominoes in Zimbabwe.