President Mugabe with the loyalists (google pictures)

Monopolisation policy threatens Zim- politics

Zimbabwe is cordially celebrating with President Robert Mugabe who reached 88 on the 21^st of February this month. However, the political terrain seems to be shaky as the old man exhibits no signs of evacuating the office despite the fact that he is “grossly” ageing.

For this week private papers have been covering the statements that have been concurred by the president claiming that he is still young and energetic and he sees no reason for resigning, it’s too early for him to take such decisions.

One of the disturbing issues is that president has claimed his son Bellarmine Chatunga harbours presidential ambitions (Newsday 23/02/2012). Even though the Chatunga is eying for the presidential position it has been argued that he can’t make it as the age gap will be a barrier. Apart from this it seems it is the president’s wish that the political terrain be dominated by the family members as one point in time it has been recorded that the family had three MPs (Sabina(Mugabe’s sister),and her sons Leo Mugabe and Patric Zhuwawo).

It seems it’s the norm in Africa that the leaders appoint their sons.

·         In 2009, Ali Bongo was sworn in as the President after the death of his father Omar.

·         Gaddafi too had spotted his son Seif-Ali to take over.

·         Hosni Mubarak too, had the intentions of surrendering “Kingdom” to his son, Gammal

·         In Cameroon, Paul Biya who has been in power for almost 3 decades has made his eldest son Franck , his special advisor.(Newsday 23/02/2012)

However, this seems to be a threat in the African politics as a whole and Zimbabwe specifically as monarch systems are out of touch in the contemporary society.