Emmerson Mnangagwa is known as “The Crocodile” for two reasons. His cunning political abilities and his heavy involvement in the 1960s Crocodile Gang that waged anti-colonial resistance against the Zimbabwean white minority regime of the time. He is also the man tasked with restoring economic and financial stability to a downtrodden country after years of neglect at the hands of Robert Mugabe. It’s a huge task for anyone, but even more so for the 75-year-old lawyer closely associated with some of the worst atrocities ever committed under the ruling Zanu-PF party. “The jury is still out on Mnangagwa,” says Gary van Staden, political analyst at NKC African Economics. “We are not convinced that he is the man to pull this off and have already made the point that there are no guarantees that he will turn out to be an improvement – though we are hard pressed to suggest he could be worse.” While the early signs are cause for optimism, Van Staden says it is worthwhile remembering Mnangagwa’s history. “Simply put he is not a nice man,” he told FTW. “He might very well decide to put it all behind him in the interests of building the country’s economy, but there really is no guarantee.” The skeletons in his closet are many. “He has a shady past and it remains a major concern. Investors are well advised to remain cautious,” says Van Staden. Mnangagwa is described by comrades and adversaries alike as cunning, unemotional, quiet and cruel. He is as politically shrewd as they come. A spymaster with a fearsome reputation, he is alleged to be the architect behind the killing of thousands of people during the civil war in the eighties between Mugabe’s Zanu party and the Zapu party of Joshua Nkomo. The two parties eventually merged to form Zanu-PF. Whilst Mnangagwa has denied any involvement in any massacres, he was Mugabe’s right-hand man and top aide for many years and considered the former Zimbabwean president his mentor. He fell out of favour when his own political ambitions for president crossed paths with that of Mugabe’s wife, Grace. But, true to his nickname, Mnangagwa’s ruthless cunning has seen him walk away the victor in this particular fight. “What is positive in all of this,” says Van Staden, “is the political reaction within ZanuPF to what has happened to Mugabe. There was absolutely no resistance to him ousting Mugabe – an event that was followed by joyful celebrations.” Since then he has been making the right political noises. “The point has to be made though that at this stage he has no choice,” says Van Staden. “He has nowhere to go considering the country cannot continue doing what it has been doing. It would be over for Zimbabwe.” According to Van Staden Mugabe’s decision to seize farms in 2000 ultimately resulted in the mass exodus of skill and investment from Zimbabwe. “At face value, it all seems very positive at this stage but there is no indication how they are going to react to trouble.”
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Mnangagwa is as politically shrewd as they come. – Gary van Staden
