Mnangagwa Sacking Shows That Mugabe Has Not Been "captured" By The Generals: Ibbo Mandaza

Publisher and political analyst Ibbo Mandaza has said that President Robert Mugabe’s decision to sack his deputy, former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa shows that Mugabe is still in full control and is not taking orders from the military generals. In the past, there has been speculation that Mugabe was no longer in full control as he had been “captured” by the generals, who were purportedly using him as a figurehead.

According to Mandaza, Mugabe’s decision to fire his erstwhile aide of more than 40 years, shows that he is not worried about any potential backlash from the military. Defence Forces (CDF) General Constantino Chiwenga had made it clear that he was supporting former Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe. Chiwenga went as far as publicly threatening staunch Mnangagwa critic Jonathan Moyo with unspecified action.

We are experiencing what is clearly the unravelling of the State under Mugabe and, more significantly, the unbundling of the securocrat State of which Mnangagwa and (Defence Forces Commander Constantino) Chiwenga were key factors.

So inadvertently, we are seeing the enormous transformation of the State without the actors therein and the leaders rarely knowing what is happening in front of them.

More: New Zimbabwe