The economy has collapsed. Poverty, disease and squalor are rampant.
Mugabe has unleashed a campaign of terror on the people and he is using
unconventional tactics to hang on to power.
The BCP wishes to register its concern at the failure of SADC and the
African Union to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. Interventions on
Zimbabwe by these institutions have been feeble and half-hearted.
Leaders of SADC and indeed those of Africa at large have shown a high
tolerance and threshold for a despot in Mugabe. They have virtually
allowed Mugabe to walk away with murder. The response of Africa to
Mugabe's criminal conduct has demonstrated once again that as a
continent we have neither the desire nor capacity to entrench
democratic values.
The BCP is of the view that all leaders who have allowed Mugabe to run
amok and destroy Zimbabwe are equally guilty of transgressions against
humanity. Too much time and energy is being wasted on empty rhetoric at
summits and meetings without necessarily addressing the core of the
problem. SADC in particular should admit failure on Zimbabwe and desist
from calling endless unproductive meetings. The latest summit in which
SADC leaders spent 14 hours only to announce the same failed power
sharing agreement is further testimony of the regional body's
hopelessness.
The BCP believes that the international community has been very
sluggish in responding to the Zimbabwean situation. The United Nations'
indifference and palpable inaction in the face of a grave political,
economic and humanitarian catastrophe facing Zimbabwe is regrettable.
The BCP observes with utter disdain that the international community
could watch a ruthless and unrepentant dictator in Robert Mugabe run
down a country and commit atrocities against his people with such
impunity. This is unacceptable.
It is the view of the BCP that the current political climate in
Zimbabwe is not conducive of an election. Intimidation, repression and
fear are commonplace and pervasive. The rule of law has collapsed and
needs to be restored. Most state institutions have lost legitimacy and
governance structures have largely collapsed.
In view of all these, it is the considered opinion of the BCP that the following should be done:
A special emergency UN Security Council meeting on Zimbabwe should be
convened to specifically explore very actively the feasibility of
extra-diplomatic efforts to force Mugabe to step down as president of
Zimbabwe
The UN should treat Zimbabwe as a failed state and consider setting up
a transitional authority comprised of eminent Zimbabweans from all
political persuasions and interest groups. The transitional authority
should be charged with the responsibility of preparing for the
elections and in particular removing all obstacles that could hamper a
free and fair election in Zimbabwe.
A massive humanitarian and emergency relief package should be rolled
out by relevant UN agencies to combat the hunger, starvation and
disease that are so evident and prevalent in Zimbabwe
As a shame saving measure, all African countries should cut diplomatic
ties with Zimbabwe forthwith and Mugabe should not be allowed in any
formal meetings of SADC or the AU.
Botswana should immediately consider dispensing with its futile
exercise of repatriating Zimbabweans and instead treat them as genuine
economic refugees.
The BCP would like to reiterate its position that Zimbabwe is a failed
state that requires urgent, swift and extraordinary United Nations
intervention. The BCP believes that diplomacy is no longer a tenable
option in Zimbabwe. We believe that it is time for tough action against
Robert Mugabe. If action is not taken swiftly, millions of Zimbabweans
will perish because of starvation and disease.