Holy Cross Professor on the Rise and Rule of Robert Mugabe, ‘The Only Leader Zimbabwe Has Ever Had’

The international community has been monitoring the situation in Zimbabwe closely since the announcement of a staged coup against Robert Mugabe. The same day on NPR’s "All Things Considered", Munya Bryn Munochiveyi, associate professor of history and expert in the history of Zimbabwe, reflected on Mugabe’s background, his 42 years as head of state, and speculated on the next steps for the Zimbabwean government.

Looking forward, Munochiveyi said, “I think it's also a dawn of a new era, albeit being shepherded by the old guard in the military.” If the military makes the necessary steps to “allow a new democratic dispensation with free and fair elections, there is every possibility that Zimbabwe will once again sort of rejoin the family of nations internationally.”

Read or listen to the full interview at NPR.

Munochiveyi also explained the history of Mugabe's rule, and the "dawn of a new era" for Zimbabwe, in an op-ed piece for the History News Network.

"At this point, the military generals in charge have insisted that this is not a “coup,” but a necessary step towards restoring political order after the unceremonious dismissal of the VP. Of course, this is a lie. It is a coup, though bloodless—so far," Munochiveyi writes.

Read the piece, "Of Course, it's a Coup" on the History News Network.