Watching bizarre developments in Zimbabwe yesterday reminded me of the last time I saw Robert Mugabe in the flesh back in 2010 at the World Economic Forum’s annual Africa summit in Dar es Salaam. Then 86, he was already as nutty as an expensive fruitcake.
Mugabe shared a plenary session with then Zim Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab. The other two hardly got a word in edgeways, Mugabe dominating proceedings with a rambling rant. He was already well past his sell-by date. Yet for reasons known only to the Zimbabweans, seven years on the dozy dictator still rules. Or did, until yesterday.
It’s impossible for outsiders to make sense just yet of what is happening in Zimbabwe’s “no coup” military takeover. But there are two heartening things we do know – the 37 year dictatorship by a senile old man has ended; and Mugabe’s former secretary turned wife, the 40 year younger Benoni-born Grace, won’t be succeeding hubby after all.
What is also clear, and a blessing perhaps, is that a similar episode is not in prospect in South Africa. Because while battle hardened Zimbabwean soldiers are well resourced, their unionised South African counterparts are anything but. Witness the last time these dressed-up scarecrows tried imposing their will when, in 1998, an invading SANDF force was sent packing by renegade soldiers from the army of tiny Lesotho.
