UN 71st Session: President Mugabe travelled to the United States expecting to lecture the west on democracy and related matters.
As usual, he did not expect anyone to question his legitimacy apart from a few flag waving Zimbabwean exiles.
He got a rude awakening from a neighbouring, next door leader today!
Ian Khama, President of Botswana, has stirred a hornet’s nest after openly asking for Mugabe to step down from power.
While emphasising that Mugabe should have resigned many years ago, Khama blames Mugabe’s misrule for the economic and social challenges affecting Zimbabwe, and many southern African countries.
This is not the first time Khama has told Mugabe ‘it’s time to go’. Early this year, Mugabe revealed how he was humiliated by Botswana in 2008 ,when he was told at a SADC meeting that ‘the seat he was on belonged to Tsvangirai, the clear winner of 2008, Zimbabwe presidential elections.
Asked by reporters if Mugabe should accept the reality of his advancing years and retire, 63-year-old Khama responded: “Without doubt. He should have done it years ago.”
“They have got plenty of people there who have got good leadership qualities who could take over,” Khama, continued.
“It is obvious that at his age and the state Zimbabwe is in, he’s not really able to provide the leadership that could get it out of its predicament,” Khama said.
Khama’s statements will be scrutinised as he has done the unthinkable, to criticise a fellow Africa head of state, worse still, a neighbour.
Mugabe is rumoured to be on the verge of retirement but struggles to put his party together on this matter as two competing and hostile factions are now openly fighting to take over the reigns.
