Outrage as Zimbabwean president names 10 roads after himself

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe has named 10 roads after himself in eight urban centres of the Southern Africa country.

He took the decision after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, where it was announced that the numerous roads in the country would be renamed after liberation heroes, most of whom had died.

However, the number of roads named after Mnangagwa has generated concern from stakeholders in the country, some of who see the development as a forced move to immortalise the president.

Speaking with TimesLIVE, Arthur Mutambara, former deputy prime minister, said the decision to rename the raods is a mere cover for Mnangagwa’s ambition.

“An incompetent Mnangagwa wants to immortalise himself. All the other name changes are to cover up this wicked ambition. Whether he falls or prevails, he wants immortality,” he said.

“Zimbabweans will be calling his name in eight cities every day, forever. That is the ‘big idea’ while the country degenerates into unprecedented political and economic mayhem.”

Meanwhile, some local authorities are already seeking to obstruct the renaming of the roads by leveraging on the urban councils act passed in 2018.

In the act, section 212(1), signed by the minister of local government, provides that renaming streets or numbering of structures is a prerogative of the local authority.

Mnangagwa had earlier unveiled his statue at Masvingo Airport.The artwork is said to be a gift from Sylvester Mugari, a sculptor.

Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe, once unveiled his own statue at the state house.