Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s authoritarian leader, has never been known for running an efficient government. Having been in power over 35 years, the 91-year-old autocrat has presided over ruinous land seizures, hyperinflation, and a collapse in foreign investment. But until now his regime has gotten the basics right: the presidential jet ferries Mugabe to his foreign medical appointments on time, his North Korean-trained secret police arrest opponents with diligence, and most judges rubber-stamp his decrees. But now there are signs of real decay.
When Mugabe opened parliament this week, he somehow read the wrong speech. His address was identical to his “state-of-the-nation” address that was given just three weeks ago. That speech was heckled by opposition politicians, prompting state-owned television to cancel live coverage of Mugabe’s speech to parliament out of fear of a similar disruption.
Canceling the live feed was even more helpful to Mugabe because it limited exposure of his latest faux pas. Mugabe spokesman George Caramba said the error was “sincerely regretted” and attributed it to a “mix-up” in the president’s secretarial office. The correct speech will be delivered later at a luxury hotel in the capital city of Harare – under heavy security.
No word on what will become of the poor secretary who substituted the wrong speech for the one that Mugabe meant to deliver. In a regime like Mugabe’s we aren’t likely to learn that.