WI: A Competent Mugabe
- Thread starter Chirios
- Start date
HeavyWeaponsGuy
Banned
AIDS is a big problem (but less so than historically), Zimbabwe's agricultural sector keeps chugging along, and it finds itself somewhat alien until quite recently from South Africa.
Actually Mugabe ran the country pretty well in the first 15 years or so. Of course there were some things that he did that weren't exactly saintly (the Matabeleland massacres, accusing whites of espionage etc.).
But up until 1995 things were looking pretty good in Zimbabwe. The country had invested heavily in education and healthcare and had the largest middle class (proportionally) in Africa and one of the best educated populations.
Things started to go pear in the late 1990s for a variety of reasons.
So, have Mugabe (for whatever reason) persuaded to retire in 1995. Perhaps Sally, his Ghanaian first wife, who was by all accounts a positive influence on him, doesn't die in 1992. She keeps Bob on a decent path, and he stands down in 1995. He will, of course, be succeeded by another Zanu-PF strong man, but someone who may not be as rigid as Mugabe. The MDC still gets formed in 2000 or so, but the political climate is much less poisonous, and there is a peaceful transfer of power to the MDC in 2005, after a relatively open and free election. The country still goes through something of an economic crisis, but the demonisation of whites and total collapse of the economy doesn't happen.
Mugabe is still alive, but is something of an elder statesman. Not a Nelson mandela, but on the same level as Kenneth Kaunda, Jouquim Chissano, or Quett Masire, well-respected former African leaders.
But up until 1995 things were looking pretty good in Zimbabwe. The country had invested heavily in education and healthcare and had the largest middle class (proportionally) in Africa and one of the best educated populations.
Things started to go pear in the late 1990s for a variety of reasons.
So, have Mugabe (for whatever reason) persuaded to retire in 1995. Perhaps Sally, his Ghanaian first wife, who was by all accounts a positive influence on him, doesn't die in 1992. She keeps Bob on a decent path, and he stands down in 1995. He will, of course, be succeeded by another Zanu-PF strong man, but someone who may not be as rigid as Mugabe. The MDC still gets formed in 2000 or so, but the political climate is much less poisonous, and there is a peaceful transfer of power to the MDC in 2005, after a relatively open and free election. The country still goes through something of an economic crisis, but the demonisation of whites and total collapse of the economy doesn't happen.
Mugabe is still alive, but is something of an elder statesman. Not a Nelson mandela, but on the same level as Kenneth Kaunda, Jouquim Chissano, or Quett Masire, well-respected former African leaders.
Cook
Banned
How the fuck can you say someone ran the country well and in the same paragraph mention the slaughter of 20,000 people in Matabeleland?
Economically he ran the country pretty decently, and ensured that the education system was good.
Do you think the various leaders of Botswana have run their countries well? Despite the oppression against the Bushman people?
Has Paul Kagame run Rwanda decently? The economy is growing, and is by all accounts one of the cleanest places in Africa. Yet, he wins 90% of the vote in elections, and has politcal rivals murdered abroad.
Strange how the Matabeleland massacres were never brought up prior to Mugabe's demonisation by the West. He was only stripped of his honorary degrees by British universities when a handful of white farmers were murdered. Prior to that he was feted around the world, despite the murder of 20 000 people in Matabeleland.
"He was a murderous psychopath who (until 20 years ago) didn't screw over his country as badly as he's done since."?
Of course he was a madman, and a dickhead.
But for the sake of the POD, I am stating a fact. The country was relatively well-managed economically and administratively, until about 1995. That is a fact.
If he had stood down in 1995 the Matabeleland massacres would have been 'forgotten', I can guarantee you that.
But for the sake of the POD, I am stating a fact. The country was relatively well-managed economically and administratively, until about 1995. That is a fact.
If he had stood down in 1995 the Matabeleland massacres would have been 'forgotten', I can guarantee you that.
Not to push this off topic but seriously? The government of Botswana hasn't ordered 20000 bushmen killed because they might vote for their political opponents, that's a pretty unfair comparison.
A POD, with Mugabe being somewhat competent, but it wouldn't be good for Zimbabwe. By 1995 the culture of corruption has already begun. If Mugabe is persuaded to retire in 1995, all that will happen is someone incompetent will be elected by Zanu-PF.
Yeah, but we would maybe have a more prgmatic leader than Mugabe, who wouldn't bow to the 'war veterans' or push whites off their farms, which precipitated the economic crisis.
Without Mugabe's malignant influence we may have a more open Zanu-PF, more prepared to remove leaders that are considered incompetent or corrupt. There may also not be this irrational hatred for the West.