The Crocodile takes over

On the face of it, the last person you would want to succeed Robert Mugabe as president of Zimbabwe is his former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. You only have to read an account of his personal involvement in the slaughter of innocents during the rebellion against whites in the country to realise that he has a past reputation for ruthlessness. He is no kindergarten school teacher. He was Mugabe's enforcer. So why is everyone cheering and waving flags and talking of a new beginning? This is not a new beginning, it's just the old ways painted in a different light. Unless Mnangagwa has seen the error of his ways and has transformed his personality and approach to life, Zimbabwe is not going to be blessed with a political Messiah. The Crocodile, as he likes to be called, is no liberal. But, hopefully, given the chance to rule the country and to do something that will actually benefit its citizens, he will use his enforcer techniques in a more benign way. Perhaps he will create thousands of jobs. Perhaps he will go on a charm offensive and persuade other countries to invest in Zimbabwe. Perhaps he will not order the jailing of opposition leaders. Perhaps he will seek unity, as he promised in his take-over speech. But I say, beware The Crocodile. Let's wait for next year's elections and see how fair and lawful they are. Now he has power, I can't see Mnangagwa relinquishing it to a soft opposition leader if he fails to win the right number of votes. Of course, if he waves a magic wand and improves the lives of Zimbabweans between now and the election, he may well win and be president for a long time. But if he shows any sign that he remains at heart a Mugabe enforcer of notorious brutality, democracy is not going to flower in one of the most beautiful countries in Africa.