RIP Mugabe 1999

WI Robert Mugabe died of natural causes 1 July 1999? Could Zimbabwe become somewhat functional? I'm not seeking a "Zimbabwe miracle", just a level of functionality roughly equal to modern South Africa, Kenya, or Zambia.
 
Civil war, which is probably what will happen when Mugabe dies IOTL.

Nonsense.

If Mugabe died in 1999 things would probably have been better for Zimbabwe, and there would be no civil war. Mugabe had not crushed dissenters in the country or his party as ruthlessly as he did a few years later. Zimbabwe was still functioning fairly well in 1999 as was ZANU-PF. If Mugabe died you would see jockeying among factions for power, but I doubt there would be civil war. In addition, the added complication of Amazing Grace is not around yet, which also changes things somewhat.
 
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