President Emmerson Mnangagwa could have ended corruption a long time ago if he had taken advantage of his nickname, Garwe, and his reputation as a ruthless man worse than former President Robert Mugabe.
He, however, squandered the opportunity and is finding it increasingly difficult to rein in his colleagues who are undermining his reform programme.
A political observer said Mnangagwa failed to take advantage of his nickname and reputation which instilled fear among the population to end corruption as he could have easily done so within the seven months he was finishing Mugabe’s term.
A lot of people took heed of his warning on corruption in his inauguration speech on 24 November 2017 which saw corruption in one of the most rotten government arms, the police, immediately plunge after Mnangagwa fired former police commissioner Augustine Chihuri.
Mnangagwa could easily have done the same with cash barons and those fuelling the black market.
There was absolutely nothing to stop him as he had a reputation of having no permanent friends.
But he squandered that opportunity by trying to be a nicer guy than his predecessor Robert Mugabe and he is now widely viewed as all talk but no bite.
It is widely believed that Mnangagwa was forced to take a softer stance because the party that he inherited from Mugabe was deeply divided and he would have destroyed it he had taken a tough stance as a lot of those who supported his comeback were from the G40 faction that was behind former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
The situation has, however, become untenable as most of those believed to be fuelling the black market which has an adverse effect on prices are said to be his close associates or senior members of either the military or the ruling party.
This left the impression that Mnangagwa has lost control of the party, but like his predecessor Mnangagwa is a scheming survivor.
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