Removing Mugabe from power won't be enough, says Zim politician

Harare – Zimbabwean veteran politician Dumiso Dabengwa has said that removing President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party alone would not be enough in getting the country back on track, reports NewsDay.

Dabenga, who is the leader of the opposition Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) party, said that Zimbabweans should also fight against the "evil system" that had sustained the ruling Zanu-PF government since the country’s independence in 1980.

Speaking to his supporters over the weekend, the veteran politician said that calling for Mugabe to go was only the beginning of a long process that would help lead the country back to recovery.

"We must get rid of Mugabe from power, but it is equally important to get rid of the system that has sustained him in power for so long and with so many negative consequences of the gravy train. He has perfected a system that has allowed the country to be bled through run-away corruption," Dabengwa was quoted saying.

Dabengwa’s remarks came at the back of an "ultimatum"  that was issued by the country’s churches.

In an open letter over the weekend, the churches pleaded with Mugabe to "stop unleashing terror on citizens for expressing genuine grievances" or risk being impeached. 

The churches said that they wanted Mugabe to admit the country was heading for "total collapse" and be willing to engage in talks.

"If you fail to address these issues by September 28, we will be forced to exercise our democratic right to petition parliament to impeach you," the churches were quoted as saying.

Zimbabwe has, in recent months, been hit by a wave of protests, as Zimbabweans demanded that the government act on the ongoing economic hardships.

Street protests, national work boycotts and internet activism were part of the ongoing rejection of Mugabe's rule.

This reportedly offered hints that opposition to ageing Mugabe could be building towards a boiling point. 

However, Mugabe’s government has often responded by implementing tougher measures aimed at curbing what it described as foreign sponsored protests.