WILL long-time Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe announce he's standing down in this afternoon's State of the Nation Address (Sona)?
Don’t hold your breath!
That at least is what many Zimbabweans are feeling ahead of the president's Sona address in parliament at 2.30pm.
That doesn't mean this speech won't be watched very closely indeed.
After all, it was last year’s Sona address that Mugabe, then 91, messed up, determinedly rereading it at the opening of parliament in September. The embarrassing mess-up was later blamed on a secretary.
The possibility of Mugabe standing down has been especially big in Zimbabweans' minds following the defeat of Gambian strongman Yahya Jammeh at the weekend and Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos' surprise announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2017. Dos Santos has been in power one year longer than Mugabe, who assumed power at independence in 1980.
Commenting on Jammeh's electoral defeat (and apparent willingness to concede it), one Zimbabwean said on Twitter that it was "a feeling we will always imagine and dream of".
Mugabe was supposed to give this speech last week but he was in Cuba for Fidel Castro's funeral.
So if he's not announcing his retirement on Tuesday, what will the Zimbabwe president say?
Judging from previous Sonas, Mugabe is likely to mention sanctions, drought and economic empowerment. There are unlikely to be any fiery political outbursts.
Robert Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as the country's Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He was born on February 21, 1924, in what was then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Mugabe was a key figure in the liberation struggle against British colonial rule and white-minority rule in Rhodesia, which led to the country's independence in 1980.
Initially hailed as a hero for his role in ending white minority rule, Mugabe's leadership became increasingly authoritarian over the years. His policies, including land reforms and economic mismanagement, led to widespread criticism and resulted in the country's economic decline. The seizure of white-owned commercial farms in the early 2000s, often characterized by violence and human rights abuses, resulted in a significant drop in agricultural production and further economic instability.
Mugabe's rule was marked by political repression, censorship, and allegations of human rights abuses. Despite facing numerous challenges to his leadership, including opposition movements and international criticism, Mugabe maintained a firm grip on power for decades. However, in November 2017, amid growing political pressure and a military intervention, Mugabe resigned from the presidency after nearly 37 years in power.
After his resignation, Mugabe lived a relatively quiet life in Zimbabwe, largely away from the political spotlight. He passed away on September 6, 2019, at the age of 95. Mugabe's legacy remains complex, with opinions about his rule varying widely, from those who see him as a liberation hero to others who condemn his authoritarianism and the damage caused to Zimbabwe's economy and democratic institutions.
