On 29th March this year, Zimbabwe went to the polls to elect their and in its choice President and Members of Parliament.  In normal democratic practice this is the most civil moment when a nation’s voice is head in leadership search.  It is the moment when the people satisfy themselves in what direction they want to go and who represents their interest most.  This is also a moment when many an African nations fail to cross the bridge and fall prey to greedy and vicious leaders who are caught in the folly of seeking to extend themselves into the future. 

Thus rather than a moment of civil choice in Zimbabwe, the status quo appears to be in a mad determination to move the nation in the opposite direction away from civility and into the deep recesses of chaos that often characterize failed states. 

This explains why almost one month after the election verdict by the people the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has still not been able to declare the results of the general election.  What is rather happening is vote recount in 23 constituencies amid sporadic violence and police brutality against legitimately protesting citizens.  President Mugabe,a near 85 year old man is fighting a life battle; thorn between serving the will of the people by allowing democracy and fair play to prevail and serving his personal ego by insisting on remaining in power against the evidence of an overwhelming rejection of his rule by the electorate. 

He still continues the same moribund campaign of playing on the emotions of the people and crying foul against white plot to overthrow him and take back the land he seized.  How could it be that unless Mr. Mugabe hangs around, the people cannot keep the land they already occupy? 

The truth off Mr. Mugabe’s paranoiac determination to stay in power against all the odds is the truth of the fixation of many African leaders who are incapable of knowing when the applause dies out and when to exit without the shame and degradation of losing a bad fight.  But what actually could have motivated President Mugabe to want to continue to be in power after 28 years in office against the evidence of loss of trust by the people? 

There are several factors worth reflecting on.  The first is that Mr. Mugabe cannot see any self fulfillment in lifting his countrymen out of the doldrums of poverty and deprivation after 28 years in office. 

After independence all the hopes of helping the people Zimbabwe to overcome the problem of social, political and economic exclusion in a land that belongs to them have come to naught.  The second is that President Mugabe does not feel comfortable exiting the scenes when there are so many issues of human rights abuses extrajudicial killing and a failed state in his hands. 

To exit and hand overpower to a political party whose campaign all the time has been to bring the failures of Mr. Mugabe to the public domain and to question the legitimacy of his power and how he exercise it is weighing him down too heavily.  In a situation like this Mr. Mugabe will prefer to widen the controversy and with the army and the police by his side, launch a war against his own people if even that will result in destroying everything including himself. 

But this is how Mr. Mugabe is more a tragedy to Zimbabwe than a blessing.  The third is that Mugabe has opened a battle front with Europe and America, in a shadow boxing, whiles all the punches from his opponent land on him with precision and ease.  He failed in his land policy and blamed the West but can retaliate in the sanctions placed on him and his regime. 

He also failed to contain the opposition in his own country and blames the same West for supporting the opposition against him but cannot beat back opposing forces who are now toppling him and sending him into history.  It is important that Ghanaians learn a lesson in all this. 

That in leadership positions we need to know that we serve the interest of the people and will exit whenever it is the desire of the people.  Besides it is equally important that leaders know their time as they continue to measure their importance against the mood of the people and exit whiles they still have some dignity and respect. 

But most importantly leaders must never foist their will on the people by trying in every means including circumventing the rules to stay in power.  This situation is often a peculiarity in Africa and is also responsible for much of the blood shed and indignity suffered by the people who seek to fight to salvage their sovereign will.  With a second thought the situation must be stopped forthwith.

Commentary By: Rashid Pelpuo