Who is Emmerson Mnangagwa? The “Crocodile” with Robert Mugabe in his jaws


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In another sense, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) needs Mnangagwa because they cannot assume direct control over the country without costing Zimbabwe its regional alliances. It’s not like Zimbabwe can afford to become even more isolated on the world stage. So the best answer for the ZDF is to put together a civilian government.



Although the overthrow of Mugabe has been welcomed by many of his victims, the truth is that the coup was launched to ensure continuity and not change. The status quo is reproducing itself by any means it can. It’s no accident that Mnangagwa is implicated at every step in the atrocities of the Mugabe era.






The IMF demanded that the Mugabe government pass austerity measures, cut the public sector wage bill and compensate the white farmers with the rent paid by black farmers. Chinamasa was later purged by Mugabe and replaced with Ignatius Chombo (who is now detained by the army).

Naturally, the Mugabe government was slow to enact any reforms because it did not want to open up the economy for fear its side would lose out. Yet Mugabe continued to pursue nationalisation. Last year, the government nationalised the diamond mines as a way of divvying up more resources to the elite based around the party.

The looting of resources and assets can only go on for so long before there are dire consequences. The balance of forces behind the coup may hope that they can stabilise the system by restoring their credibility with the West. But this is the same party that has blocked democracy for four decades. In short, the hard times are far from over for Zimbabwe.