This bold stance has taken courage – given the fact that the majority of current African leaders were not democratically elected. These new statesmen are swimming against the tide of African dictatorship. They do this at the risk of being labelled Western lackeys and enduring ridicule from the African bullyboy Mugabe.
In the case of Botswana, Mugabe has even threatened violence and hinted at unspecified action against Zimbabwe’s peace-loving neighbours. This is no idle threat from the war-monger who, since independence in 1980, has fought in four wars; first in Mozambique with Frelimo against Renamo, then in Matabeleland against the Ndebele. His third war came in the late 90’s as Mugabe sent Zimbabwe’s National Army to secure and protect his own mineral concerns in the DRC. The tyrant’s fourth war now rages against his own people across Zimbabwe.
As reported elsewhere in this newspaper, Mugabe and his military junta are the chief architects of the current wave of political beatings, abductions, torture, rape and killings of MDC members – causing untold suffering to hundreds of thousands. In the midst of this suffering it is important for the world to take notice of how a one-time beloved freedom fighter, turned tyrannical African dictator, continues to rape and pillage his own people and the nation he liberated.
The world is now listening -Â but that is all it is doing. The G8 nations are pointing at African nations to take a lead in any action – which, to this point, they have not done. However, voices are now rising up across the continent. The cries of Zimbabweans being murdered by their own government and the calls from those whose moral instinct is to safeguard defenceless nationals, have thus far fallen on deaf ears.
But if the leaders of Africa fail to act, other people of conscience will.
In Sharm El Sheik Africa showed that it lacks the political will to solve Zimbabwe’s crisis. The international community has to step into the vacuum. Mbeki’s disastrous mediation effort has come to naught, largely because of his lack of neutrality and even-handedness. Mbeki has openly criticised Tsvangirai and refused to condemn Mugabe for orchestrating violence against his own people.
His mediation efforts have now been exposed for what they have always been – an attempt to save the military junta, and perhaps his own financial interests. It is with this in mind that we commend Morgan Tsvangirai for refusing to meet him unless he is accompanied by an independent AU mediator. This is the correct position and we also warn Tsvangirai against all this talk of National Unity – we all know what happened to the GNU of ZANU and ZAPU in the 80’s – Mugabe remains adamant to bring about a one party state.
This will never happen in his lifetime! The old will always give way to the new; it is the nature of things. Roll on a new breed of African politicians, statesmen, democrats. Â
Word for Today
Be very careful then, how you live – not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. – Ephesians 5;15