The recent hint by octogenarian President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, that he will, again, contest the country’s presidential election billed for next year deserves the condemnation it is currently attracting across the globe. No right thinking person would accept Mugabe’s further imposition of himself on the hunger-ravaged Zimbabwe.

Mugabe, in a session with editors of various media organizations at Zimbabwe House declared that he will contest the next election if his party, ZANU-PF fields him. The disclosure, apart from raising the political temperature in Zimbawe, has, rightly, sent shock waves across political circles around the world.

Two reasons informed that. First, it is unthinkable that Mugabe, who is currently 86 years would still be desperate to hang onto power. Second, one would have thought that the man, inspite of his thirst for power, would have been persuaded by the grim realities in the country presently to tell himself the bitter truth that it is time to sign off.

The planned election is in conformity with the Global Political Agreement between the ZANU-PF and the opposition MDC, represented by Morgan Tsvangirai. The opposition favours the decision to hold a new election. But the move is a violation of a section of the agreement which recommended that a new constitution should be in place before the election.

Tsvangirai became Prime Minister following a power-sharing agreement between ZANU-PF and MDC, brokered by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki on September 15,2008 after the public outcry that trailed the election of that year in the country. The Prime Minister recently voiced his frustrations in the government, accusing Mugabe of emasculating the opposition.

We are not against Zimbabwe holding election next year, but we are wholly opposed to Mugabe offering himself as a contestant in the exercise. Apart from the issue of age, the man’s participation will definitely cause the election to follow the ignoble path of the recent past exercises in the country.

Knowing full well that he may not win in a free and fair contest, Mugabe will most likely employ all manner of untoward strategies, including openly manipulating the electoral processes so as to hold onto power. He did exactly that in 2008 and that led to loss of thousands of lives of innocent indigenes of the country who were on the streets protesting the outcome of the poll.

Zimbabwe is yet to recover from the fall out of that election. The stories that emanate from the country on a daily basis have remained heart- wrenching and unbelievable. There is hyper inflation and people are dying of starvation as a result of food shortages, massive internal displacement and emigration, pitiable health care situation, collapse of infrastructure and indeed unmitigated downward spiral in Zimbabwe’s economy.

The power sharing deal was brokered as a desperate bid to use Tsvangirai to reach out to Britain and other western powers to relax the sanctions imposed on the country. The calculation had shown some promises at the initial time. But collapsed following Mugabe’s decision not to respect some sections of the agreement especially areas that deal with control of the police and other security institutions.

The non-lifting of sanctions by western nations has been, largely, responsible for the worsening economic hardship in Zimbabwe. Mugabe contesting next year’s poll means that the parlous situation in the country will remain. This, obviously, cannot be in the interest of residents of the country. It can also not be the wish of most people on the African continent and even beyond.

It is time for Mugabe to go, at least, in the overall interest of the country. He has spent more than his fair share of time in office and his place is secured in history. The man should know that willingly giving others a chance will tremendously burnish his presently uninspiring political image.

Zimbabweans deserve to see their country wear a new face. They deserve a new era with new leadership and with investors returning to their country and opening doors of employment for the teeming jobless youths. This cannot happen unless a new person with fresh ideas is voted in by the people.

We urge African leaders and the international community to step up pressure on Mugabe to give way for an acceptable government to be enthroned in Zimbabwe next year. Only then can the current drift in the country, which has led to increased hardship, be arrested.

(Source)