Africa’s tarnished jewel: how four decades of Robert Mugabe left Zimbabwe’s economy reeling

As Zimbabweans  head to the polls for the presidential election on Monday July 30, the outcome has never been less certain.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the president who came to power by overthrowing his long time boss and ally Robert Mugabe in November, bets that Zimbabweans will back him as the safest pair of hands to repair the country’s ruined economy and usher in an era of national renewal.

Nelson Chamisa, the young leader of the Movement of Democratic Change, hopes to pull off an upset by offering a completely fresh start and persuading voters to punish the ruling Zanu PF party – including Mr Mnangagwa – for decades of misrule.

But whoever wins next week will inherit a legacy of massive economic…