Mnangagwa returns, what’s next?

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned from China where he went to attend the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation to face a crisis in which prices are soaring, fuel supplies are erratic and the nation waits to see who will be in his cabinet.

Mnangagwa has promised to turn Zimbabwe into a middle-income country by 2030 but people are more anxious about what is happening today as it could be a sign of lack of confidence in the new President who has just been given a give-year mandate.

War veterans who are solidly behind Mnangagwa have accused the opposition of conniving with their “imperialist handlers” to cause the worsening economic situation.

One of the opposition leaders Tendai Biti’s said that Movement for Democratic Change Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa holds the key to the economy so Mnangagwa must talk to him.

“I hope wisdom can prevail, this country needs a dialogue, and Emmerson has to talk to Chamisa because Nelson holds the keys and that is fact,” he told Newsday.

“We are not talking about the government of national unity its nothing close to that, they must be discussions around the issues on legitimacy, there has to be discussions about state departure on militarization issue, issues on national healing reconciliation and inclusivity because we hold the keys we simply hold the keys. Emmerson must find it in his wisdom to talk to Chamisa because Nelson holds the key.”

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who was Mnangagwa’s election agent, however dismissed Biti’s claim saying ZANU-PF had the pedigree to run the economy without support from the opposition.

“The people of Zimbabwe hold the keys to their own economic development not an individual, the people of Zimbabwe gave a mandate to those that they want to lead them for the next five years, so it’s not an individual who holds the key to economic development,” he said.

Mnangagwa has held the country in suspense for 11 days now as people wait to see who will be in his cabinet. Most people are keen to see whether he will walk his talk by getting rid of ministers who are regarded to be thoroughly corrupt and who have overstayed in government. Even his own party, especially the youth, are looking for new blood and technocrats who have hands-on knowledge.

Reports said Mnangagwa was waiting for legislators to be sworn in before he could pick his cabinet.

The legislators were sworn in yesterday.

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