Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe
Exit strategy – will the 83 year old President retire?
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is regarded as a former liberation hero in Africa, but now even some of his supporters say he must go - but when and how?
The best thing that can happen to Zimbabwe now is for President Robert Mugabe to retire, free and fair elections to be held; a Constitution with a Bill of Rights to be drawn up and for a new government to begin to rebuild the shattered country, with the help of the rest of the world.
President Robert Mugabe however seems determined to change the constitution to extend his rule.
Is the 83 year old Mugabe likely to ever step down?
With sanctions, economic and humanitarian decline and increasing isolation from the international community, including many of his former friends on the continent, it looks like the time is getting closer for Robert Mugabe to leave the stage.
Strong voices within the divided opposition the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and his own party ZANU-PF are talking about an exit strategy for Mugabe and the desire to begin creating a “new” Zimbabwe.
According to a report in Zimonline: “The desire to remove Mugabe within the year provides a rare rallying point that cuts across partisan affiliations, and ethnic and regional identities. Opposition party leaders are keeping lines of communication open with the ZANU-PF dissidents while preparing for a non-violent campaign to demand immediate constitutional reform.” Read the whole report.
There is no doubt that regional governments as well as SADC heads of state have been quietly whispering words into his ear about retirement.
South Africa and its neighbors have been criticized about their “quite diplomacy” approach to Zimbabwe, in spite of all these counties being flooded with refugees.
There is no doubt that most African leaders would prefer voluntary retirement and a managed transition to democracy.
It is possible that President Robert Mugabe could be made life president of the ruling ZANU-PF party, allowing him a dignified exit as the country’s leader.
It remains unclear how the idea of conferring the title of Life President on Mugabe was raised, and by whom. Insiders suspect that the secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa, may have sneaked it in because none of the representatives who attended the annual meeting raised the issue.
Pressure from within and outside of his party is forcing Mugabe to groom a successor. “Mugabe has never wanted a successor,” said Jonathan Moyo, Mugabe’s former spin doctor. “All Life Presidents have the same characteristics, they don’t groom a successor. [Kenneth] Kaunda, [Kamuzu] Banda, [Jomo] Kenyatta never groomed one,” said Moyo.
Rumours are rife that Mugabe may retire to Namibia, county of one of his closest friends and allies, Sam Nujoma who stepped down as head of state two years ago.
During Nujoma's reign, Mugabe was a frequent visitor to Namibia. Mugabe is rumored to have accumulated a substantial amount of property in Namibia, including a game farm and a stake in a hotel group.
Read BBC story - Robert Mugabe the survivor
