Open Letter to Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa

Dear Emmerson

Let me start by congratulating you on your pending inauguration as the second president of Zimbabwe. Makorokoto, Amhlope, Congratulations.

Now that pleasantries are out of the way let me get straight to the reason why I am writing this letter to you. You and I know that you are a very bad person. You and I know that you are not an angel or democrat by any definitions. You were Mugabe’s enforcer and ally of the former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, during the 37 years in which you participated in the gross human rights abuse and corruption.

You and I know that you are NEVER going to admit and apologise for directing the Gukurahundi massacres of the people of Matebeleland and Midland provinces. You and I know that you are never going to apologise for helping Mugabe steal the 2008 election and the state sponsored violence which you spearheaded. You are not going to apologise for the evil committed by the intelligence officers while you were the security minister. The arbitrary arrests of activists and forced disappearances of those who were critical of the Mugabe regime, which you were part of. You are not going to tell the truth about what happened to Itai Dzamara, who is still missing for saying what you and your Lacoste faction eventually said, “MUGABE MUST GO!” In the same breath, are you going to release all the kidnapped Patrick Nabanyama, political prisoners such as Yvonne Musarurwa and others arrested and incarcerated during the reign of your predecessor? Are you going to apologise for making Harare an illicit diamond trading centre during your time as speaker of the parliament which resulted in the UN recommended a travel ban and financial restrictions upon you.

Even though you get to be president on Friday 24 November 2017, never ever kid yourself that it the will of the people. As the will of the people is only expressed through the outcome of a free and fair election. You have been appointed by the army after it successfully staged a ‘bloodless’ coup. The celebrations you saw, were largely because people felt that anyone other than Mugabe is welcome. People were so desperate that even if the army had chosen a donkey, people would have still celebrated. Do not let it get into your head.

That euphoria is soon coming to an end as people come down to earth and realise that their fortunes are still the same as they were when Mugabe was president. They still do not have jobs, they still have worthless bond papers and coins, they are still living on less than $5 per person per day. The police will soon return to the roads and continue with their corruption. At the ports of entry, the ZIMRA officers will continue to fleece those returning home from neighbouring countries. The people will soon start to judge you for who you are and the policy framework you are going to champion. Only this time, there won’t be any Mugabe to blame.

I am glad you were poisoned, and your life threatened that you had to flee Zimbabwe into self-imposed exile. I am not happy that you almost lost your life, I am happy that you learnt a lesson that many Zimbabweans in the diaspora have been going through all these years of Mugabe’s rule, with you by his side. Now you know how it feels to have to flee your motherland, running away from persecution by the regime. Are you going to correct that and allow Zimbabweans to experience true democracy, that they can be critical to you or your government without fear of persecution? Or you are going to continue to suppress opposition voices, restrict freedoms and govern with an iron fist.

Are you going to realise that the people around you are tainted and can’t wait to continue with the looting? The likes of Obert Mpofu, Patrick Chinamasa and your beloved army generals. You are in in a tricky situation because they are the ones who have given you this presidency on a silver platter. You are likely going to protect those who have been implicated in abuses and corruption. Therefore no significant changes will not come about as you will continue with the the Mugabe legacy of tyranny, impunity and lack of democracy.

Mugabe is gone, but the corrupt systems he put in place are still there. Corruptions runs rampant from the executive, state owned enterprises, down to the law enforcers. Are you going to address these issues?

Seeing that your ascendancy to the presidency is upon the blessings of the army, how captured are you buy those generals? Are you going to the spine to tell them to stay out of politics? Are you going to ensure that those generals complicit in the diamond $15 billion saga are brought to book?

That said, you and I know that you have been given a blank check. You have been given an opportunity to rewrite your tainted legacy. Let this not be a missed opportunity. Are you going to champion the much-needed security sector reforms, media reforms, electoral reforms, economic policy reforms? Or are you going to fall back on what you know best, the ZANU PF way of doing things, Mugabeism?

ED, we need a complete overhaul of the system, the removal of one man alone is not enough. You could choose to go against your DNA and form a transitional government that would include opposition leaders and help each other spur economic growth. However, that his highly unlikely given the comments of Chinamasa, followed by those of Chinotimba who both truly articulated the Zanu PF DNA. This further shows that Mugabe’s perspectives and ideas are alive and well within your Zanu PF party. Are you the man who is gonna REFORM Zanu PF?

In your first speech from exile you promised a democracy, re-engagement with the national community, economic growth and all the goodies that come with democracy. The people of Zimbabwe will hold you to those promises. I will be coming home soon to test your commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

Lastly, I implore you ED, please do not let this be a missed opportunity for you and the people of Zimbabwe. I believe that no man is irredeemable. You are capable of change, only if you have the will to do so.

I will end by comments from a good friend of mine, Gareth Stead; “The day is finally come. What a journey for you my friend since 2008. Let the winds of change continue to blow away all that stands in the way of the restoration of Zimbabwe to its God ordained purpose and destiny. The days of being plundered by colonialists, imperialists and corrupt power-hungry rulers are over. Let the democratic project be restored. May Zimbabwe be the breadbasket of Africa once more. May she lend and not borrow. May she export more than she imports. May she be a blessing to all the nations of the earth”.

Again, you could choose to maintain the status quo and carry on as before, or you could choose to rewrite your legacy and be the man who ushered democratic change in Zimbabwe, turned its economy around and improved the fortunes of Zimbabwean not just the elite and connected few. The choice is yours.

God bless you and the great nation of Zimbabwe.

Godspeed ED

Laswet Savadye (still in exile)

Laswet is a former student leader, activist and a champion of human and animal rights. Passionate about saving the world for future generations. “Live and let live”. This article was originally published on Afrika Focus blog