Robert and Grace Mugabe should go away quietly

The party is over for Robert Mugabe, and as the saying goes ‘it was fun for family and friends while it lasted’.

Translation–it was disaster for everyone else. And they should leave without much fanfare as this financially strapped nation called Zimbabwe has endured enough of the first family.

As leader of Zimbabwe for the past 37 years, the 93-year old Mugabe has been a torn in the side of major White landholders by transferring much of the land under their ownership back to the original landholders, Black Zimbabweans.

This was one of two reasons, America and its sphere of influence moved their money away from this mineral rich nation, denying the capital and investments needed to develop Zimbabwe. With no money and no country to turn to for help, the whole idea of creating jobs and putting citizens to work–was wishful thinking.

The second reason involved the European Union reneging on $150 million in financial aid to Zimbabwe, after an election monitor was expelled from the country in protest of voting irregularities by the ruling party ZANU-PF. They were protesting the absence of free and fair elections under a repressive regime. The EU applied sanctions.

The sanctions, coupled with the graft under ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) headed by Mugabe, led to high unemployment and inflation as Zimbabweans challenged the government of Mugabe to install political freedoms, free and fair elections and eliminate endemic corruption.

But lo and behold change is coming to Zimbabwe, according to ZANU-PF. Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was recently removed as vice president will be re-instated and Mugabe will be removed as president this Sunday.

In the early years Mugabe and his party instituted some reforms and built infrastructures to move the country forward.  But it all changed as leaders ran out of new ideas and a one-party system became entrenched, refusing to share power.

In the end it boils down to a dictator not knowing when to leave.

So long Mr Mugabe, you’ve overstayed your welcome. And Please take Grace with you.