It is encouraging to note that the regime takeover in Zimbabwe has thus far, according to all accounts, been peaceful, says Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus.
Dr Groenewald says that according to the media, the Zimbabwean army stated that they had to intervene to save Zimbabwe from ruin and to put an end to “massive” corruption. According to the articles in the media, various ministers were arrested in the course of the takeover.
He says that it is common knowledge that Zimbabwean citizens are unhappy about the fact that Robert Mugabe has held onto his position of power for so long and that he is seemingly making plans to have his wife, Grace Mugabe, succeed him.
“During Mugabe’s reign in Zimbabwe, the economy of the country that was once the bread basket of Africa collapsed and citizens became impoverished, while Mugabe and some of his supporters lived in luxury, far removed from the suffering of the average Zimbabwean.
“Lately, it looked like the President’s wife had already taken over the reigns as head of state as Emmerson Mnangagwa, the popular vice-president, was dismissed on her request.
“The situation is actually quite similar to what is currently going on in South Africa. Here we also have a president who thinks that he is above the law, who surrounds himself with cadres in high positions that plunder the state purse, while the economy is on the verge of collapse and the unemployment rate is sky high.
“Clearly, our president is also indirectly trying to hold onto his position of power by getting his ex-wife elected as the head of state.
“The FF Plus believes that in a democratic dispensation, any changes must be made in a democratic way by means of an election process. This obviously did not happen in Zimbabwe and there is the hope that a free and fair election will follow soon so that a new head of state can be appointed.
“In the interim, it is in South Africa and the surrounding countries’ best interest that everything in Zimbabwe goes smoothly,” says Dr Groenewald.
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