Military coups spell doom for Mugabe's survival

Ousted  Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

Many consider ousted Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as a man who is loved and hated in equal measure, 

 When the news about Zimbabwean Defence Forces taking control over the country spell in social media on November 14, many rubbished it as a joke.

 Even as the ZDF dispute allegations of executing a coup on Mugabe's government, there are uncertainties hanging around Mugabe's whereabouts and his authority as the head of state.

What throws President Mugabe's fate into more disarray is that Africa has had numerous coup attempts. Those that have emerged successful have rendered the victims to become powerless frustrated villains.

 A good instance is where the army in what began as a peaceful protest in 2012 overthrew former Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure. The military officers would later pave way for a transitional government to take over.

 Another case is the 1960 incident when the Togolese army having felt aggrieved by the French government, embarked on overthrowing the government, which led to  the death of Sylvanus Olympio who was the president. Tension ensued as the same army later overthrew the government they had set up in 1967.

 When it comes to dethroning the government through the military instrument, African states have been leading. Miles Japhet, a British scholar, reveals findings in his journal titled 'Military Coups and Military Regimes in Africa' which barely touches on almost all African countries. Some countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Dahomey, Sierra Leone and Zaire have had more than one coup executions.

Other North African countries such as Libya, Egypt and Algeria had their long-term serving leaderships overthrown by paramilitary coups.

Causes of coups

 While concentration could be on the event itself and how it is discreetly executed like in the Zimbabwean case, the intention is often overlooked.  Obadias Ndaba, an African Columnist with the US-based media HuffingtonPost says in his Column published on November 14, that many African countries have citizens who are yearning for change and are willing to go out of their way for it.

Ndaba says that majority of African population are predominantly young people aged 25 years and below. He ties this to the awakening for change that has been witnessed in Northern Africa Arabian countries among others.

 "These young people, who are largely unemployed or underemployed, are frustrated and outspoken about the plight of their countries and the slow pace of change, hence eager to challenge their leaders." Ndaba writes.

As for Zimbabwe, the future perhaps looks gloomier for President Mugabe given that his party ZANU PF has not launched fierce defence on his side. The seizure of the state broadcaster by the military officers has complicated matters for the longest serving African leader. 

As the world awaits the end result of Zimbabwe military takeover, time will tell whether Mugabe will rise from one of his darkest hours in his political career.