100 Editions on: Democracy in Zimbabwe
This article reflects on the 2017 political transition in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe was ousted in a military coup. It details the rise of Emmerson Mnangagwa and the internal ZANU-PF power struggles involving Grace Mugabe.
Why it matters
It provides historical context on the end of Mugabe's long-standing rule and the subsequent shift in Zimbabwean political leadership.
In the week Palatinate went to its 800th edition of print, the world had its eye on the events unfolding in one country: Zimbabwe. From 14th to 21st November 2017, Zimbabwe’s then-President, Robert Mugabe, was toppled in a bloodless military coup.
The build up to the uprising – in which the Zimbabwean Defence Forces (ZDF) surrounded Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, placed the 93-year old President under house arrest, and replaced him with Emmerson Mnangagwa – was initially one of simple succession.
Mnangagwa had been Mugabe’s ally and protege since the country’s 1960s War of Independence, yet a few weeks earlier had been poisoned at a political rally – his supporters claimed it was carried out by the President’s wife, Grace Mugabe, via a dairy farm she controlled.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in