Zimbabwe has been on a political roller coaster in the past weeks, which saw the resignation of Robert Mugabe as president through a military coup, followed by the rise of his former right-hand man Emmerson Mnangagwa.
(Spectators cheer from the stands at the inauguration ceremony of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the capital Harare, Zimbabwe, Nov. 24, 2017. Image Credit: VOA Zimbabwe)
Celebrations are apparent across the capital city of Harare when Robert Mugabe inevitably resigned from his position as long-standing leader of Zimbabwe. Sworn in days after the overthrow of Robert Mugabe, the 75-year-old former security chief, Emmerson Mnangagwa, promised to guarantee the rights of foreign investors and to re-engage with the West, and said elections would go ahead next year as scheduled.
Thus far, Mnangagwa has paved the right road towards a better Zimbabwe. Just three days after his inauguration, he has dissolved Mugabe’s cabinet of ministers and, “...is in the process of putting together a new team of cabinet ministers” as reported by News24.com. He has appointed Patrick Chinamasa as acting finance minister and Simbarashe Mumbengegwi as acting top diplomat.
(Emmerson Mnangagwa, Image Credit: BBC.com)
Mnangagwa served as Mugabe’s right hand man taking the role of Finance Minister during the late 1990s and Vice President from 2014 until he was dismissed a few months before Mugabe’s resignation. Mnangagwa is also famous for being the ‘crocodile’ of the nation for his political shrewdness. He is first and foremost a military man and was accused of allegedly playing a role in the massacres against opposition supporters. Henceforth, making many people nervous as to how Mnangagwa will fulfill his promises in continuing his reign without the terror of a similar Mugabe-like governance. 
Mugabe has been a controversial and divisive figure. He has been praised as a revolutionary hero of the African liberation struggle who helped to free Zimbabwe from British colonialism, imperialism and white minority rule. Conversely, he has been accused of being a dictator responsible for economic mismanagement, widespread corruption, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, suppression of political critics and crimes against humanity.
(Robert Mugabe, Image Credit: Wikipedia.com)
Though many expresses their doubt on the future of Zimbabwe, a great number is just as hopeful. VOA Zimbabwe interviewed a number of youngsters in Harare expressed their hopes for for social, economic, and political reform. Mhako tells VOA Zimbabwe, he has hopes for Mnangagwa’s administration. “My hope is that the dispensation will let young people freely do what they want. Would be able to dream in a country where their rights are respected, thoughts and aspirations are supported, promoted and allowed to thrive. Where they can occupy spaces of political influence, economic balance, being able to access jobs and livelihood.”
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Annemarie Sieraphin Minaesta Wantah
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