Mugabe's resignation sparks wild jubilation from Harare to Francistown
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday November 22, 2017 08:19
For over a week, he has been under mounting pressure to step down. According to media reports, Mugabe will be replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa who he fired from the vice presidency early this month. It has been speculated that Mnangagwa of the leading Zanu-PF will lead a transitional government that will feature opposition parties.
At Bots-Zim bar, which is located near Haskins Street, Zimbabweans danced and beeped their cars moments after the official announcement that Mugabe has stepped down.
Some Zimbabweans were also said to be in a celebratory mood at Galo Shopping Mall, one of major shopping centres here. The Haskins and Bot-Zim bar are popular with Zimbaweans. They mostly shop within the Haskins Street, which houses many Chinese shops.
“I am very optimistic that Zimbabwe will rise again. Getting rid of Mugabe means a lot to me. Mugabe has done a lot of harm to us. To me he symbolises the broken lives of many Zimbabweans. This is a very joyful moment for me,” said 36-year old Donald Moyo, who was born and raised in Harare.
Moyo has been staying in Botswana for over a decade. Just like many of his compatriots, since he set foot in Botswana he has been transporting goods from Francistown to Bulawayo (for Zimbabweans who want to resell goods in their own country) for a fee.
Ishmael Kapambeza, who hails from Bulawayo, said the resignation of Mugabe is the most significant moment of his life. “We will now be able to go back home and lead our normal lives. The most important thing was to get rid of Mugabe. He is the main reason our economy did not flourish. We have resources and skilled manpower to revive the economy of the country.”
“I am a trained professional mechanic, but because of Mugabe (misrule) I have now been reduced to a mere transport operator (transporting goods destined to Bulawayo from Francistown for Zimbabwean traders).”
“Many other young professionals have been forced to go to other countries is search of greener pastures because of Mugabe misrule. Being led by Mugabe has been a painful experience. We are now free,” added Kapambeza who could not contain his excitement.
Shingi Tangwara said Mugabe’s resignation is good news to him. “There is high unemployment and poverty as a result of the mismanagement of the economy by Mugabe. It will take time for the economy to fully recover, but the resignation of Mugabe is step in the right direction towards reviving the economy of Zimbabwe,” said the 30-year old from Harare.
Tangwara also expressed hope that the transitional government will do enough to revive the economy of Zimbabwe. Since the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe started approximately 15 years ago, Francistown particularly Chinese traders have amply benefited from Zimbabwe business operators who purchase goods in the city to re-sell in their home country.
The Chinese shop owners have also created employment for dozens of Batswana. Other locals are employed in warehouses keeping stocks for the Chinese traders. Batswana who are in the transport industry and those in the informal sector have also benefited from Zimbabwean traders coming into the country thanks to Francistown’s proximity to the Ramokgwebana border.