Hosni Mubarak at least had the sense to realise that his time was up; not so Libyas Colonel Gadaffi who is still there and vowing to stay put despite the efforts of NATO forces. Almost inevitably the unrest has reached Africa. No wonder President Rupiah Banda of Zambia saw fit to warn countries in the SADC region to heed the lessons of Tunisia and Egypt. The legitimate expectations of our citizens he said, cannot be taken for granted.
Watching the tragedy unfold in the west African country of Cote dIvoire is a reminder of the suffering inflicted on the masses when one man refuses to listen to the will of the people. By international consensus, including the AU, Laurent Gbagbo lost the election of 2010 but has refused to give up power. His opponent Alasanne Outtara gained 54.1% of the vote but Gbagbo still maintains he is the legitimate president. At the age of 66 he might be expected to have learnt by now that its a wise man who knows when his time is up. Like Mugabe, Gbagbo is a highly educated man, a history teacher by profession but he seems to have learnt nothing from history. Instead he chooses to remain holed up in the basement of the presidential palace like a cornered rat, guarded by some 200 troops. Outside the palace the battle rages between Outtaras forces and those soldiers still loyal to Gbagbo while the terrified residents shelter in their homes without food, power or water. Banks in the capital have been closed for over two months and without money Ivorians are unable to buy even the little food that is available.
Just 5 and half hours away by air, in Zimbabwe, calls for the 86 year-old Robert Mugabe to retire by his once sycophantic allies in SADC have been met with anger and contempt by the former strong man of Africa. We will not brook any dictation from any sourcewe are a sovereign country he said when he arrived back in Harare from Zambia where he was allegedly rebuked by President Banda and told that he was talking nonsense as he attempted to excuse the ongoing violence against MDC members. An observer who was there at the Zambian gathering is said to have remarked that Mugabe was behaving like a spoilt child in his reaction to SADC criticism. Even South Africa has finally found the courage to speak plainly to the Old Man, You could end up like Cote dIvoire if you rush into elections Mugabe was told but he listens to no one. Just like a spoiled child he must get his own way and in the process he is making enemies left right and centre. As far as one can gather only Angola, Namibia and the DRC are still fully supporting him. Worrying reports of an arms shipment from China suggest that Mugabe is prepared to go to any lengths, not excluding military force against his perceived enemies. Russia, Ukraine and China are reportedly supplying arms to the Mugabe regime. And the Chinese, who have just loaned Zimbabwe $700 million are anxious to protect their numerous investments in the country, We hope that Zimbabwe will protect the legitimate right of Chinese businesses in the country. the Chinese delegate remarked. Meanwhile, the attacks on the opposition continue with unabated fury. The notorious Chipangano gang attacked a funeral crowd in Mbare this week and 5 MDC activists were killed. How will the Old Man explain this to the South African facilitators who are currently back in the country? After the Sunday Mail launched its vitriolic attack on President Zuma last week, its hard to believe the South African facilitators will just accept Mugabes word as they have in the past. Old habits die hard however and despite SADCs very open criticism of Mugabe it remains to be seen whether they will follow through. Hugh Masikelas question remains as relevant today as it ever was: What is it makes a man want to stay in power for ever?
Yours in the (continuing) struggle PH. aka Pauline Henson author of the Dube books, the latest of which Samis Story is available on Lulu.com.
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