Mugabe unrepentant dictator says analyst

By Tichaona Sibanda
21 December 2006

A political analyst on Thursday described Robert Mugabe as an unrepentant dictator as evidenced by his desire to extend his tenure of office by two more years.

Bekithemba Mhlanga, a London based political analyst said ‘once and for all moves to confer himself with two more years actually confirms what has been held widely across the world that he is an unrepentant dictator.’

‘He has actually previously said he’s not a dictator but he is in a position of authority because the people of Zimbabwe have chosen him to be in that position. But we know that he was rejected by the people of Zimbabwe in the last general election which he won by hook or crook,’ Mhlanga said.

Mhlanga added that if indeed Mugabe was not a dictator and was not interested in saving beyond the call of duty why would he turn around and come out with (this) obviously malicious and vindictive move that is designed to perpetuate his misrule over Zimbabwe.

At its annual conference in Harare last week, the Zanu (PF) regime discussed plans to extend the term of office on its president, a post Mugabe, 82, has held since 1980, when Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain.

Mhlanga said what this signifies, above everything else, was that Mugabe is the only person who seems to have a strategy to continue as President of Zimbabwe. The political analyst believes everyone had been driven into a position of complacency thinking that come congress time Robert Mugabe would simply step aside and things will return to normal.

‘However I think Mugabe has shown his cunning, malicious and vindictive ways one more time by outmanoeuvring not only members of Zanu (PF) but outmanoeuvring the opposition and the rest of the world,’ he said.