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Africa Subsaharan
Have Zimbabwe's generals turned into democrats?
2018-06-21
[BBC] In his well-cut suit, with outstretched hand and beaming smile, Sibusiso Moyo is the very picture of a modern politician.

He speaks softly, smoothly and pauses to listen as if he had spent years on campaign trails listening to the supplications of constituents. His desk is covered with papers waiting to be read and signed.

We meet at the start of what will be another long day for Zimbabwe's foreign minister. Waiting in another room is the Russian trade delegation.

There will be more meetings after that for Mr Moyo: diplomats, civil servants, and the possibility that the phone on his desk will ring with a summons from President Emmerson Mnangagwa - whose office is five minutes away in another part of the building.

The president has declared Zimbabwe "open for business" and it is Mr Moyo's job to make sure investment starts to roll in. This is after all the "new" Zimbabwe. But perhaps "newish" would be a better description.

After all, the president was for decades a loyal supporter of former leader Robert Mugabe, whom he ousted last November after 37 years in power.

Former generals who were all complicit in Mugabe's era of oppression now occupy key positions in the Mnangagwa cabinet.

In his previous incarnation, Foreign Minister Moyo was Maj-Gen Moyo and commanded army operations in the provinces during past elections.
Posted by:Besoeker

#2  with outstretched hand

Today's assignment: summarize relation between Africa and the rest of the world in one sentence.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2018-06-21 12:02  

#1   Foreign Minister Moyo was Maj-Gen Moyo

But is he the very model of a modern Major-General??
Posted by: AlanC   2018-06-21 11:55  

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