In the twenty years since then thousands of pro-democracy activists have been killed or imprisoned. Last Sunday, the regime announced that the military junta had once again won the latest elections. The opposition did not contest so the result was hardly surprising.
Zimbabwe by contrast is in a coalition government, a so-called partnership with the Movement for Democratic Change. Things are getting better in Zimbabwe say western observers, like the peeress who declared in the House of Lords just the other day that Zimbabwes economic condition had improved considerably I dont know what criteria the Right Honourable Lady used to make such a judgement but it bears little resemblance to the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe. Take the example of pensioners who receive just $25 a month from their NSSA pension fund. As all Zimbabweans know, monthly payments to NSSA are compulsory; you have no choice, the money is deducted from your salary at source. NSSA receives $9 million a month from these contributions and after years of paying into the fund a pensioner receives the princely sum of $25 paid direct into the Post Office. Deduct from that the $10 fare to travel to the nearest Post Office if you live in a remote rural area, and you are left with $12 to last you the month. Compare that pensioners plight to the unbelievable wealth accumulated by top chefs like Ignatious Chombo, whose wife is suing him for divorce and wants a divorce settlement of $2.000 a month. The list of Chombos assets, all revealed in court papers, includes farms. mines, hunting safari lodges, properties in South Africa and in Zimbabwe residential and commercial stands, houses and flats not to mention countless top-of-the-range vehicles. Indeed, things have got better, substantially so for the like of Chombo and his other Zanu PF comrades assisted by the military and now by the diamond wealth that is flooding into their bank accounts.
It is no coincidence that soldiers are rampaging through the country, in Masvingo, Chipinge and this last week in Marondera town to pick off MDC supporters. There are reports of top army personnel being rewarded with money paid direct into their banks for seeking out villagers sympathetic to the MDC. Villagers are once again being forced to buy Zanu PF cards before they can get desperately needed food. Even resettled black farmers in Masvingo are being punished by Zanu PF youths for not attending Zanu rallies.
As the MDC spokesperson, Naison Chamisa, said this week, the MDC does not want to see a repeat of the recent elections in Myanmar (Burma) where its a charade. Westerners who often have little understanding of Africa or Zimbabwe may say that Things are getting better but the reality on the ground for ordinary people tells a very different story. If we are not yet as bad as Burma all the signs are pointing in that direction. Like the Burmese generals, Robert Mugabe seems impervious to criticism from the outside world. Unlike his Burmese counterparts, Mugabe can claim that he regularly holds elections but the way they are conducted is remarkably similar to the Burmese charade.
Aung San Su Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy, has spent much of the last twenty years under house arrest. She is due for release tomorrow; whether that will happen or not is still in doubt. What we can be sure of is that if the Lady attempts to re-enter the political arena she will once again be put under house arrest. The remarkable courage of this woman is an inspiration to the whole world and not least to Zimbabwe where an 86 year old dictator clings to power. Like the generals he shares the dangerous delusion of immortality.
Yours in the (continuing) struggle PH. aka Pauline Henson.
Post published in: Opinions