The True Meaning Of Zimbabwe’s Fourth Revolution

After 37 years at the helm, President Robert Mugabe’s ‘prophesy’ that Zimbabwean political power could only be seized by the barrel of a gun came to pass with the military (considered his long-time backers) taking over power in a well-choreographed, bloodless coup which has been overwhelmingly received by both the masses and some regional actors.

By Leopold Munhende

Army commander, General Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga says the intervention which came after the firing of former vice president, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is on behalf of the Zimbabwean people and a protest to Mugabe’s continued persecution and purging of Zanu PF members with a military and liberation history.

We take a quick rundown of events in Harare, players involved and what they mean to both the general Zimbabwean public and the international community.

Chiwenga’s ‘bloodless’ Coup

General Chiwenga’s coup has restored Zimbabwean patriotism which had been eroded by Mugabe’s misrule and abuse of power. He has become the nation’s savior at a time opposition party politics was fast becoming monotonous and increasingly divided.

Together with Major General Sibusiso Moyo who led the takeover of state broadcaster (ZBC), Chiwenga has become the face of a new independent Zimbabwe but the main question is how Mugabe’s army came be so bold and daring against the man whose grip on power has never been a secret.

“General Chiwenga has paved way for the nation to speak out. May SADC support us at this time,” Liberty Doro told state run The Herald.

The Army has not had to exercise force because it has won over the support of the masses, a factor ZANU PF’s Youth League never thought would have happened. If it were Mugabe in a position of power in this revolution, the streets of Harare would have been filed to the brim with marauding bands of Youth Militia and the captured ZRP tormenting ordinary citizens.

Our Army is however incapacitated when it comes to the defense of the country’s borders against external aggressors as it is neither well-resourced nor motivated. It has then become a conduit which is facilitating political civility and economic development of the country for the future.

Zimbabwe has always been a military state only run by a democratically elected president who has been given that blessing by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai knows this hence he has never thrown them any diatribe.

Chiwenga and his battalion of Generals have realized that which opposition and civil society have been searching for the past 18 years. Chiwenga has been bold, literary telling South African president Jacob Zuma and his SADC’s delegations to bugger off despite having given them a platform to air their views at State House.

Mnangagwa!

The most powerful politician in Zimbabwe’s political matrix today has lived up to his moniker, Ngwenya (Crocodile). His shadowy character has manifested itself in this masterplan Coup which has captured the whole of ZANU PF and left him inches away from power, backed by the same army which seemed behind Mugabe’s reign.

Mnangagwa has spearheaded Mugabe’s recall at party level and likely impeachment on Monday. Mugabe’s party has fired him the same way he did others. All ten provinces have endorsed his exit with some of ZANU PF’s most powerful but persecuted leaders coming out of exile to add a voice to the growing …

Mnangagwa is naturally vindictive, he shares that character with Mugabe and ‘Gucci’ Grace, the former president’s wife. There will now be an account of all those who wined and dined with him.

How social media has helped inform the masses

Already unconfirmed reports on various social media platforms by reputable individuals such as popular daily NewsDay owner, Trevor Ncube indicate that Mnangagwa’s vindictive character is at play.

Popular social media platforms, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter have been the main information sources for the generality of Zimbabweans as the army has remained tight-lipped on any developments, choosing to declare that ‘all is under control’.

Reports indicate that minister of higher and tertiary education, Professor Jonathan Moyo who has been the brains behind the Generation 40 (G40) faction responsible for his dismissal, minister of local governance Savior Kasukuwere and minister of finance Ignatius Chombo are said to be in army custody at the directive of Mnangagwa.

The Army has labeled them ‘thieves bent on destroying the nation’.

Popular micro-blogging platform, Twitter has been one of the main sources of information, bringing on the dot ‘fake’ and some truth though Zimbabweans seem not to care. Twitter officialized the alleged capture or arrest of a host of others ministers, members of parliament loyal to the ousted leader, further heightening tension in the streets of Harare.

Social media brought the people onto the streets of cities across the world and have made the revolution more of an intervention by the people without however taking anything away from what General Chiwenga has done.

Citizen journalists have increased the reach of pictures and videos of the ongoing revolution via these platforms. It is their efforts which have shared with the world these events at home. Their efforts have challenged SADC, AU and any other International body’s considerations of military intervention to defend the tyrant.

They came in their millions with South African public broadcaster, SABC News putting the number at just over 2.5 million in Harare alone. More gathered in the southern cities of Bulawayo, Gweru, Victoria Falls and across the globe.

“You let a man have a very long rope to hang himself. He is cornered with nobody feeling sorry for him or even wanting anything to do with him,” said Tshinga Dube a former cabinet minister in Mugabe’s government who was recently fired.

Mugabe’s demise was of his own construction. His party has recalled him, Parliament is likely to sit with the main agenda being his impeachment. Gucci Grace and Professor Jonathan Moyo just sped up the process.

Zimbabweans have spoken! Aluta Continua!

Leopold Munhende is a socio-political analyst based in Harare and the Young Journalists Association (YOJA) communications manager. He can be contacted on leopoldkm17@gmail.com