Its amazing what can finally become the ‘last straw’. In the case of Zimbabwe the last straw is Mrs Mugabe. They’ve put up with (not that they had much say in the matter) Robert Mugabe for 37 years. During which time he has, (in no particular order): taken a productive and economically viable nation and lead it to bankruptcy; removed all the white farm owners, by force and often by murder, to turn their previously viable holdings into virtual squats for his unworking mates with a massive sense of entitlement and no desire to work; ‘ethnically cleansed’ all tribal opposition, including the slaughter of 20,000 in Metabeleland; turned anything approaching ‘democracy’ into a joke; has seen hyperinflation leave his people starving; while he and Mrs M. live a seriously ‘high life’ of riches and opulence. To the extent that their son recently posted a video of himself in some nightclub pouring champagne over his diamond-encrusted Rolex.

The lifelong Marxist views held by Robert Mugabe do not appear to be genetic.

All is corrupt, all is bad, nothing good has come from his ‘term’, not for Zimbabwe, not for his people, not for Africa, nothing. Yet they put up with it because they have absolutely no choice or say in the matter. Until Tuesday, when the tanks rolled down the High Street.

Mugabe is 93. Same age as my dad but nothing like as lovely a man. My dad would never have murdered 20,000 people in one go. 275 was always his limit.

Succession needed to be considered, as Mugabe’s many frailties became apparent. He’s losing it, basically, as he’s entitled to do. The first thing he’s actually entitled to in the past 37 years. So the natural ‘heir’ would be Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s long-term number 2. The two men served prison time together in their revolutionary days and have remained close all through. But Mrs Mugabe had different ideas. And she famously backs up her ideas with violence. More importantly, the people of Zimbabwe hate Grace Mugabe with a passion. Maybe its the arrogance and nastiness, maybe its her ordering a 100 carat diamond with, basically, the money that should be feeding their children, I don’t know. But hated she is.

But Mnangagwa is hated too. Also a man with blood on his hands. A lot of blood. But someone who at least appreciates that without Western capital, his country will die. Something the Marxist in Mugabe never took on board, or if he did, was never prepared to act upon.

Zimbabwe’s in a fucking mess. As it has been for 37 years. Corruption, tyranny, silencing of opposition, total autocracy, economic ruin. The Marxist dream.

I have visions of Jeremy Corbyn. God help us all.

Happy Thursday

A xxxx