How does Mnangagwa measure up to the anicipated change that the 14th of November 2017 ignited in the hearts of the Zimbabwean people

Now that the euphoria of 'our father Ed' rescuing Zimbabwe has died down, the illusion that was created by the 'coup d'état' of a new day in Zimbabwe with Mnangagwa confidently seating in the seat of power is also dying. On the 24th of November 2017 in his inauguration speech President Mnangagwa boldly stated that the 'culture of government must change and change now' but this is turning out to be just another lip service paid to a desperate and hopeful people.

Mnangagwa had the opportunity to cement his place in the Zimbabwean people's hearts by firstly allowing there to be a coalition government representing the major political parties in the country to transition towards the elections but instead he chose many of the very same people who were responsible for Zimbabwe's current position to continue being ministers. Its ironic that only those ministers who were loyal to President Mugabe are being accused of corruption and yet many of those that Mnangagwa chose were also part of the same government that crippled Zimbabwe.

By choosing Constantino Chiwenga as his vice president Mnangagwa removed the autonomy that the government had and it now seems that the army is part and parcel of the government. On the 31st of December 2017, 10 members of the Mthwakazi Republic Youths were arrested and beaten by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army because of their protest against Mnangagwa's involvement in the Gukurahundi genocide that killed at least 20 000 of the Mthwakazi people. This was a clear violation of their constitutional rights and also marked Mnangagwa as a liar when he declared in his inauguration speech that, ' ...all citizens must feel secure and enjoy a sense of belonging in their land...'. 

Maybe I'm just cynical but the photo opps that President Mnangagwa and his wife have been taking over the past few weeks have left me baffled. Auxillia Mnangagwa made it a point to visit the major hospitals in Zimbabwe highlighting the inefficiencies of staff at these hospitals. My question is where was she all this time?...she was the vice president's wife since December 2014, before her husband's coup, and was well positioned to visit these hospitals and help if she wanted to but she didn't...until now. In my eyes this is just another publicity stunt and is no different to her husband visiting the ailing MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and parading his visit to the whole world. I for one am sick and tired of this window dressing type of leadership and if we want to see real change in Zimbabwe we need to make sure that the people with Zimbabwe's best interests at heart are the ones that are voted for and elected into power in the upcoming general elections....

A huge payout and Immunity against prosecution for the Mugabes...a slap on the faces of the Zimbabwean people

Mugabe's leadership left Zimbabwe crippled with debt and the vast majority of the population living in abject poverty and yet he is being rewarded for his shoddy work. The Zimbabwean government is failing to provide essentials like medication in the hospitals and yet they can afford to pay Mugabe a staggering $10m....seriously? This is the kind of culture that allows those in government to get away with murder because we are not holding them to account for all the wrongs that they have committed but are instead paying them for their disservice.

For years Mugabe and his government committed crimes against the Zimbabwean people and for immunity to be included in his resignation deal, this indicates that he was well aware that his actions against the Zimbabwean people were wrong. This is the second time this year that Grace  Mugabe has been granted immunity against prosecution and this is sending a clear message to people like the Mugabes that they are above the law. There are families who have lost children, siblings, mothers and fathers at the hands of the Zimbabwean government and the message that is being sent to them is that their loved ones don't matter. Why do we as the Zimbabwean people stand by and watch whilst these things happen and yet hope for a better Zimbabwe?

For any real change to be effected in our beloved country, all those in Government and those in places of influence who have in the past been protected against prosecution have to be brought to account. We cannot cherry pick between those we deem to be 'bad' criminals and have them prosecuted whilst leaving the 'good' criminals to roam free...a criminal is a criminal and must be brought to justice.

To have Emmerson Mnangagwa in power or not...that is the question!

If Emmerson Mnangagwa orchestrated the coup d'état I applaud him for that, however I do not excuse the part that he played in bringing Zimbabwe to its current state of economic chaos and instability.

Emmerson Mnangagwa was complicit in the suffering of Zimbabwean citizens by not standing up to fight against the human rights violations that have prevailed under the rule of President Mugabe's government. When hundreds of people were made homeless by Grace Mugabe after their unlawful eviction from Arnold farm he did not voice his concern, when activists were brutalised, tortured and some even murdered, he was silent, when hundreds of women were raped as a result of their affiliation to parties other than ZANU PF, he never got them any justice and when US$15billion of diamond revenue went missing, he was part of the band of robbers who caused the money to disappear into thin air...why is he now all of a sudden our beloved father Ed.

We should not be disillusioned by this new face of Mnangagwa. Some are hailing him as the hero in this story and yet he was one of the people who caused the chaos. As President Mugabe's right hand man all this  chaos happened during his watch. If this man is allowed to lead the country then we cannot expect anything different to what we have already experienced over these past 37 years. The current prevailing government is rotten to the core and if we are to have any positive change, development and growth in the country we need to have a complete overhaul of the government and start afresh with new people.

May I remind everyone that this is the same Emmerson Mnangagwa who was accused of murder and terrorism affiliation only a few weeks ago...even after this coup d'état, he is still that same Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Double standards by Zimbabwean government....what hypocrites!

Yesterday Emerson Mnangangwa was the golden boy of ZANU PF and Vice President of Zimbabwe but today he is a fugitive, linked to a local terrorist group and is being investigated on four counts of murder.

What puzzles me is that some of the crimes that he is being accused of having committed occurred years ago and yet no one in government did anything to bring charges against him. Surely this information of his many crimes did not miraculously come to light after his being fired from government? This brings to question how President Robert Mugabe leads his government. His recent actions seem to suggest that it's acceptable for someone to commit heinous crimes against the citizenry of Zimbabwe and still hold powerful positions in government as long as it suits the leadership. My question is...if a person who was chosen to be Vice President by Robert Mugabe himself and yet had a dossier which included at least four murders but was found worthy of the position...how many others in this current Zimbabwean government are criminals but are under the protection of the President as a result of their loyalty to him?

As long as the Zimbabwean government continues to appoint criminals and murderers to positions of power and harbour them against prosecution...Zimbabwe will sadly not be the beautiful, thriving and safe country that we once knew and loved.

Typhoid prevention or an investment in garnering election votes...a no brainer for the Zimbabwean government!

The state of the country's health system has deteriorated to such a point that there is now a typhoid epidemic in the Mbare area of Harare. This has resulted from the fact that there is poor sanitation and inadequate clean drinking water in the area. Other infectious diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea are also rampant in the area.

Given the seriousness of these health issues I cannot understand why the government would prioritise spending an estimated $US6 million buying 226 vehicles for the traditional leaders. According to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Savior Kasukuwere, these vehicles will make it easier for the traditional leaders to travel to their areas of jurisdiction....really? This amount could have been used to resolve the sanitation problems and to provide clean drinking water in the area, and also to stock up the hospitals and clinics with the much needed medical supplies, but the government clearly thought getting these vehicles was a priority for them.

 When is the government going to prioritise the needs of their people instead of looking to their own interests of garnering support in the forth coming elections? When being in public office is motivated by self interest that is a clear indication that that person is no longer qualified to be in office. I believe that we need a complete overhaul of the current Zimbabwean government and start afresh to rebuild Zimbabwe with people who have the country's best interests at heart and who have the wisdom to step aside when their time in office is up...

Zimbabwe's Leaders....what a mess!

Accusations of poisoning, public dress downs and twitter spats...this is the order of the day among the people who hold positions of authority in our government.

The Zimbabwean economy is ailing and instead of our leadership doing something to address the many economic issues that Zimbabwe is currently facing in order to lift it out of the doldrums, their only concern seems to be who will take over from President Mugabe. These public spats have further served to decrease our confidence in the leadership of the country.

At least 85% of the population are currently unemployed and this is largely due to the government's poor economic decision making. People have resorted to being street vendors as a means of sustaining themselves and their families. President Mugabe without taking any regard for these people has decided to take this livelihood away from the vendors by banning them from selling their wares in the city centre. How are these people supposed to survive?

Zimbabwe is now no different to any of the countries that we know that were and are still run by dictators in that anyone who questions authority will be punished. Sten Zvorwadza experienced this when he voiced his opinion by standing up for the vendors and was arrested and detained for two days. All these moves by the government further reinforces what we already know that those in leadership are out of touch with what the common man is experiencing...how can they if the President's wife can buy herself a Rolls Royce worth about US$444 000 and her son and his partner can import 7 luxurious cars worth about US$2.5 million. This is like a slap to the face for every hard working Zimbabwean who is battling to make ends meet and is being told that the government has their best interests at heart...from where I stand it definitely doesn't look like it!

Free Pastor Evan Mawarire!!!

When the government oversteps its mandate by arresting citizens for highlighting their inadequacies and for them wanting to see a better Zimbabwe....that is called gross abuse of power.

Over and over again this Zimbabwean government has violated citizens' rights all in the name of governing and this is totally unacceptable. The country is falling apart and instead of fixing these problems they try to suppress anyone who highlights what everyone else can plainly see. I don't think we can be any clearer that we no longer want this Mugabe led government to remain in power.

We will no longer be intimidated into silence and be forced to applaud incompetence. To pastor Evan Mawarire I say, I stand with you and as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 'We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.'