PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe was on Monday accused of “embarrassing the country” after he rubbished two-term limits imposed on most African leaders despite endorsing the same provision in Zimbabwe’s new Constitution.
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
Mugabe told the just-ended African Union (AU) summit in South Africa that Africans had put ropes around their necks with the term limits. He joked that two terms could feel like two weeks.
MDC Renewal Team secretary-general Tendai Biti described Mugabe as a “dinosaur” who was out of sync with reality.
“The old man lives in the 9th century and each time he opens his mouth, he has embarrassed the country and Africans,” he said.
“It is serious humiliation for the country. He is a dinosaur and an embarrassment to all that is African and, in particular, for us Zimbabweans.”
MDC Renewal Team international relations committee chairman Gorden Moyo said Mugabe appeared not to see the irony when he poked fun at Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term bid.
Nkurunzinza drove his country into turmoil when he insisted on standing for a third term in violation of the constitution.
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“Mugabe should be equally reminded of the same perilous road that he has taken over the last 35 years of uninterrupted reign,” Moyo said.
“His long-distance rulership, sit-tightism and stayism has been characterised by genociding practices and tendencies as signified by Operation Gukurahundi, Operation Murambatsvina, Operation Hakudzokwi, Operation Mavhoterapapi and Operation Red Figure among others. His bashing was akin to seeing an iota in Nkurunziza’s eyes while a log is hanging on his own nostrils.”
MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora said Mugabe’s bloopers had become an embarrassment to Zimbabwe.
“The Constitution of Zimbabwe sets term limits and so do other constitutions of advanced democracies,” he said.
“The issue of people wanting to stay in power forever is an archaic way of running nations and having a President issuing statements that are contrary to the Constitution is embarrassing to say the least.
“Mugabe signed our Constitution into law, but goes on to say things that run directly against the very same document.”
Mwonzora said the 91-year-old leader’s shortcoming was that he believed he was the only one capable to leading the country.
“He thinks the only people capable of running nations are those in power including himself, but he must be told that there are more capable people who are more intelligent than him within the citizenry,” he said.
Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said Mugabe’s utterances were consistent with his behaviour.
“There is nothing new from Mugabe, it is in line with his tendencies and practices,” he said. “The idea of term limits is consistent with the ideals of a democratic State. But Mugabe and like-minded leaders think they are running monarchies.”
Another political analyst, Alexander Rusero, said Mugabe’s thoughts were consistent with those of most African leaders.
“It is typical of African leaders and the thinking amongst the majority of our politicians,” he said.
“It is an indicator of the warped understanding of democracy that these people have. The funny thing is his colleagues in the region such as (Botswana President Ian) Khama and (South African President Jacob) Zuma have recently been reported as saying two terms of 10 years are too long.”
Zanu PF was against a number of provisions in the Constitution adopted in 2013 including the issue of presidential term limits and devolution of power.
