Now that the dust appears to be settling in Zimbabwe, Africans and African-Americans in the Diaspora have raised several questions on the former strongman, Robert Mugabe.
At the international conference held in Montreal, Canada, which focused on ways of getting Africans in the Diaspora to invest more in their home continent, the notable investors raised the issue of the deal which the interim Zimbabwean leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa, reached with the negotiating team of the ousted leader.
A brief review of the resignation saga will put matters in perspective. It had been widely reported that Mr. Mugabe resigned after being granted full immunity and a $10 million lump sum payment, full monthly salary, medical cover, security as well as protection of his private property.
According to the reports Mr. Mugabe’s negotiators managed to strike a deal with the generals to enable the 93-year-old former president not to go into exile but rather enjoy his retirement in Zimbabwe with all his benefits. It was also agreed that in the event of his death, his wife, Grace, will be given half salary per month.
The team of mediators included a Catholic priest, Fidelis Mukonori and former RBZ governor, Gideon Gono. Reverend Father Mukonori later said in an interview that his role was just to mediate between the military generals and Mr. Mugabe.
But all these would have remained subtle matters if not for the outburst of the Commander of the Presidential Guard, Brigadier-General Anselem Sanyatwe. He reportedly called for an emergency Joint Operations Command meeting with uniformed officers. “Why was he granted full immunity after all the allegations of corruption leveled against him?” the commander queried.
Picking up from where the Army commander stopped, the participants in the African Investments Forum in Canada have urged the country’s new leader, Mr. Mnangagwa, to explain the rationale for all the benefits extended to Mr. Mugabe.
A spokesman for the group, Oben Khadia, said there was no doubt that the government’s action would be seen in and out of Africa as geared towards encouraging other dictators and sit-tight leaders in the continent to continue in office. Dr. Khadia said the ex-President could be allowed to remain in Zimbabwe but the new leadership ought to prosecute him and take back all the wealth he stole from the government in his thirty-seven year reign.
