Hopes for better Zimbabwe could be misplaced

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

The possibility that Zimbabwe may finally be emerging from its long nightmare of misrule has been the highlight of the news cycle of the past few days, but the country is far from out of the woods.

Zimbabwe’s army moved in to place Robert Mugabe, who has beggared what was once the breadbasket of Africa, under house arrest. It sparked outbursts from a population that has long been too cowed to express its opposition to a brutal and kleptomaniac dictator, with thousands taking to the street.

Mugabe, 93, has been expelled by the ruling Zanu PF party and was expected to resign this morning (NZ time), but in a rambling speech he somewhat surprisingly did not.

The extent to which Mugabe has plundered one of the world’s poorest countries will likely become clear now. His personal fortune is said to be over $US1 billion.

The spur to the army’s action was moves by Mugabe to have his wife Grace replace him. “Gucci” Grace, 41 years younger than her husband, is known for her lavish spending.

Unfortunately Zimbabwe is not in the clear. In line to replace Mugabe is his long-time ally Emmerson Mnangagwa, who he removed as deputy president two weeks ago. Known as the Crocodile, for his perceived shrewdness, he may not be much of an improvement.

The hope is that the army can find a way within the constitution to form an interim government that includes the opposition.

Back home, with soccer’s All Whites defeated, the sports emphasis was on the oval ball and two tight matches. The All Blacks just held on 22-17 against Scotland who were only a pass away from an historic win that many would not have begrudged them.

Far less impressive were the petulant Kiwis, beaten 4-2 by Fiji in the Rugby League World Cup prompting Twitter wags to say the only thing they got right was the haka, and that the Warriors have got “Leagueies” used to losing.

Tonga just held on to defeat Lebanon 24-22. Look for more convoys of flag-waving Tongan fans in Gladstone Road before next Saturday’s semi-final.