Link to Article: “Zimbabwe: Three years after Mugabe’s removal in 500 words”
After 40 years of strict ruling by Zimbabwe’s former president, Robert Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa stepped into power. Zimbabweans held high hopes for change in their country, after being left with displeasing living standards and poor representation in their own government. Unfortunately, after three years of new leadership, Zimbabwe hasn’t seen improvements. In fact, things have gotten worse.
Poverty levels and suppression of citizens has spread throughout the country, leaving many displeased. Mnangagwa pledged to change many aspects of the way the country was being run, one major part being the economy. It has only worsened. The job market remains small, and the majority of the population still lives in poverty, unable to obtain their basic necessities. The country’s GDP has also been predicted to drop this year.
Mnangagwa continues to rule over citizens with an iron fist, steering away from its efforts to form a democracy-based government system. Abuse of human rights has become more prevalent, with higher cases of abuse, abduction of activists, and military action against protesters and government-opposers. Instability is beginning to become the “new normal” for Zimbabweans, as they feel stuck in a loop of poor leadership and corruption.
The situation in Zimbabwe is extremely unfortunate, as its citizens have blatantly been lied to. The nation that saw new hope for the first time in 40 years has been let down. The broken economy, loss of jobs, and disrespect and abuse from the government have created distrust from Zimbabweans, which may be threatening to the country. When citizens aren’t approving of their country’s government and leadership, it often leads them to rebel and/or inflict violence, further creating instability within the state. The lack of progress in healing the economy is also damaging for the country, as more and more people fall into poverty, the job market shrinks, and development slows. This will halt the overall advancements in Zimbabwe’s growth.
This article mainly ties back to what has been discussed in class through the governmental structure of Zimbabwe. The country, formally known as the Republic of Zimbabwe, is considered a presidential republic. Its leader is elected democratically, abiding by the constitution. The president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, both head of state and government. This structure has had a major influence on the past present and future of Zimbabwe and its progress. The reason that Mnangagwa is in power in the first place is due to the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d’etat. The nation was able to overthrow its leader, placing Mnangagwa in power, thus leading to the current state that Zimbabwe is in today.