When Robert Mugabe was removed from power in the November 2017 coup I wrote that whilst a tyrant had been removed, we had yet to remove a tyranny.

Emmerson Mnangagwa impressed me with his rhetoric when he took over as president. He spoke of a commitment to democracy, a zero tolerance to corruption, being open for business and that he would ensure free, fair and credible elections.

I was so impressed that I expressed the hope that he would be a Gorbachev rather than a Milosevic in a New Year’s message.

In the eight months since taking power the gulf between Mr Mnangagwa’s rhetoric and action has become increasingly apparent. And in the realm of democracy and the holding of credible elections,…