Categories: Stories

No way out for Mugabe

Zimbabwe is currently in the same situation it was in in 2008 when its money became worthless but this time there is no way out for President Robert Mugabe because there is no dollarization to alleviate the situation and buy the government time.

According to Prospect magazine Zimbabweans now have no way of transacting and getting on with their lives and have resorted to protests to put pressure on Mugabe to step down.

There has been a series of protests in the past few months some organised by social media activists and others by the leading opposition parties but Mugabe’s government has brushed these off as the work of the West.

Prospect magazine, however, said the protests were from citizens who felt cornered.

“For ordinary Zimbabweans, the disappearance of cash has created a situation similar to that in 2008 when money existed but was worthless: they have no way of transacting and getting on with their lives,” the magazine says.

“That is the reason why protests have erupted. But this time, there is no dollarisation to alleviate the situation and buy the government time. That pill only works once.

“The costs of its policies have caught up with the regime: it has raided almost everything worth anything without allowing regrowth and it is now running on fumes.

“Short of a large donation from some foreign benefactor, there is no way out. President Mugabe is at the limit of his politics.”

Mugabe says he will not step down as he has the mandate to rule until his current term expires in 2018.

He has also been selected by the party to contest the next elections which means that he could be in office until 2013 if he wins.

(236 VIEWS)

This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 12:38 pm

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Can the ZiG sustain its rally against the US dollar?

Zimbabwe’s battered currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, which was under attack until the central bank devalued…

November 10, 2024

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024

The Zimbabwe government and not saboteurs sabotaging ZiG

The Zimbabwe government’s insatiable demand for money to satisfy its own needs, which has exceeded…

October 20, 2024

The Zimbabwe Gold will regain its value if the government does this…

Economist Eddie Cross says the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will regain its value if the government…

October 16, 2024

Is Harare the least democratic province in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, which is a metropolitan province, is the least democratic province in the…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabweans against extension of presidential term in office

Nearly 80% of Zimbabweans are against the extension of the president’s term in office, according…

October 11, 2024