Editorial 08-03-07

wns and cities during the past few weeks. They know full well that the vicious might of the Mugabe empire is ranged against them – and for a little country like Zimbabwe it is considerable.
Now is the time, more than ever before, for courage; for counting not our lives unto death; for standing up and being counted; for refusing to fear.
The Zimbabwe government is preparing for war against the people of Zimbabwe. But it is a war that Mugabe cannot win. It is tragic that it should have come to this – all because of the utter corruption of a once good man by his lust for power and riches. But now, all his power and all his riches have turned to dust and he has become nothing but a scared old man, terrified of living out his remaining days in prison in The Hague, paying for his crimes against humanity, or finding a bolthole in some foreign land as so many dictators before him have been forced to do.
Elsewhere in this newspaper we carry a story quoting the International Crisis Group as saying there is now consensus among Zimbabweans that Mugabe must go. This is not just wishful thinking. The writing is on the wall. There is general disgruntlement among doctors, teachers, civil servants, soldiers, policemen, workers, rural communities and students. The list of shortages is endless.
Even Mugabe’s henchmen, who for so long have enriched themselves at the feeding trough he created, are now looking beyond him – to a post-Mugabe Zimbabwe.
We urge all those in a position of influence at this hour to do the right thing. The hour is terribly late – we are all condemned to years, maybe decades, of hardship and re-construction as we seek to build again the jewel of Africa that was once ours. But the sooner we start, the sooner the task will be completed.
Everybody knows what needs to be done. The MDC roadmap has been carefully thought out and widely communicated – a new constitution, fresh elections, repeal of repressive legislation, freedom of the press. It’s all in there.
If an all-embracing constitutional commission were to start NOW, elections could surely be held next year. Instead of the presidential election being deferred to 2010 to take place jointly with general elections, why not the general elections being brought forward to 2008 to take place jointly with the presidential election?
Admittedly this would be a huge task. But it is by no means insurmountable. The international community stands more than willing to help us. Remarkably, there is still an enormous fund of good will towards Zimbabwe. If we demonstrate our determination to return to true democracy, they will certainly put their money where their mouths are.
Word for today
Issue 09
“Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” Phil 2;14