These are just some of the challenges encircling President Robert Mugabe‚ at 92 the world’s oldest head of state. He has cracked down on opponents‚ dialled up anti-Western rhetoric and threatened anyone who steps out of line.
This month‚ the government moved to increase surveillance of social media and cellphone operators.The army said it was on high alert for cyber-terrorism‚ which it says aims to destabilise the government .
But with protests now spreading to some of Zimbabwe’s rural areas that have traditionally been Mugabe strongholds‚ the growing scale of the challenges has prompted former party officials‚ Western diplomats and political opponents to question how much longer the man who led Zimbabwe’s independence war and has ruled the nation for 36 years can stay in power.
Political-risk firm Verisk Maplecroft’s Africa head, Charles Laurie, said: “What you have is highly incendiary conditions in Zimbabwe . . . [It’s] ripe for a power grab.” Although not formally on the agenda‚ the recent upheaval – and uncertainty over a potential successor to Mugabe – are likely to come up at a summit of southern African leaders in Swaziland next week.
