We are our own liberators (24-08-07)

>Lusaka.

Many reacted with anger and frustration to the cringing display of solidarity with the embattled octogenarian dictator who has brought the once prosperous nation to its knees.

It had been hoped by many that the regional grouping would finally take some decisive action on the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe, particularly as its impact on neighbouring countries is now weighing on them heavily. But hope has now died.

Mbeki’s anxiously awaited report and statements by the incoming SADC chairman dashed any hopes for a resolution of the deteriorating situation on the ground, and any hopes of African pressure on the Mugabe regime to abide by regional standards.

It is inconceivable that the regional heads of state can continue to believe, or even to pretend to believe, that what Mugabe is doing to Zimbabwe is acceptable.

Unemployment has more than quadrupled since he came to power. Only 20 percent of the population is formally employed. Real income per capita has plummeted. Inflation is more than 13,000 percent – the highest in the world – and interest rates are well over 700 percent. The value of the Zimbabwe dollar has fallen by more than 65 percent in the last year.

With the collapse of the economy and the health sector, HIV/AIDS has taken a terrible toll. Pregnant women are infected at a 20 to 50 percent rate, and about one-third of these women will pass the virus on to their babies.

Faced with mounting opposition and riots of starving peasants, in which two people were shot dead by the security forces in March while two others were trampled in a food queue last week, the government has adopted totally unworkable populist policies that include indigenization laws compelling foreigners to remit majority shareholding in their enterprises to government.

With wages failing to keep up with inflation, strikes have increased. This year alone, there were major strikes in health and other services. Food price increases and desperate shortages of all basics have sparked protests in Harare.

People are arbitrarily arrested, beaten and then released without charge. State-sanctioned extra-judicial killings are now commonplace. Thousands of people flee daily to neighbouring countries.

And yet this bunch of clowns in pin-striped suites has the temerity to say the problem in Zimbabwe is exaggerated. Every SADC country has diplomatic representation in Harare. Do their staff not see people queuing for essentials, do they not see the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans? What kind of people are they if they think this is normal?

As for the ridiculous statement that western sanctions are responsible for the country’s economic problems! The SADC leaders are a disgrace to all Africans. They have abandoned the suffering people of Zimbabwe in their darkest hour – just like the OAU of old, which gave Idi Amin a standing ovation while he was murdering Ugandans.

As for Mbeki – he has irrevocably compromised his position as an arbitrator. We no longer have any faith whatsoever in his mediation efforts. He has shown his true colours. He does Zanu (PF)’s bidding.

Zimbabweans should now forget about the SADC initiative. “We are our own liberators” was once a Zanu (PF) slogan. Now it is true once more.

Word

“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see is from the hand of God, for without him who can eat or find enjoyment. To the man who pleases him God give wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.” Ecclesiastes 2;24-26