Mr Mavundla

I'm white. My family is ex-Rhodesian. I was born in South Africa just after your country won it's independence. Many people very close to me fought in the same war as you and your compatriates fought, only, they fought on the other side. I am a passionate and committed South African. I don't believe in white rule and I don't believe in black rule. I believe in a rule of a people by it's own people. Race is a concept Africa needs to free itself of before you or I will see peace and prosperity on this continent.

You've wasted an entire article berating Ian Smith, Basson and others in order to paint a picture of gross racism and disrespect of whites for blacks while at the same time painting a pretty picture of the 'innocent' ZANU and ZAPU participants in the struggle. Are you forgetting Viscount? Are you forgetting the terrible torture, maiming, murder and intimidation of your own people by your own guerillas? I am about as likely to believe your propaganda aimed at us racist whites as I am to believe those black on black and black on white atrocities did not happen.

Peter, the war is over. The war war over nearly 28 years ago. Forget Ian Smith, forget Wouter Basson... Zimbabwe has more important priorities than redressing suspected crimes from decades ago. You have an economic and political crisis in your country. Your people are suffering under worse oppression than they have ever experienced before - they're poor and hungry. Further, they're subject to a more and more powerful government every day.

Absolute power currupts absolutely. Mr Mugabe has destroyed the Zimbabwe that your ZANU and ZAPU compatriates fought so hard to win in the 60's and 70's. It's time to be frank with yourself and see through the misinformation. Robert Mugabe has ruled your country for nearly 30 years. The AU stipulated 2 terms maximum. He's three times over the limit. The man has systematically extended his grip on total power over the country and in the process whipped the rug from beneath your economy, exacted gross human right abuses against his own people and consistently denied the opposition the freedom they deserve to campaign for a better Zimbabwe for all Zimbabweans.

I want to tell you, Peter Mavundla, to put up your hand now and say 'I want a new Zimbabwe... I want a Zimbabwe where democracy is the only absolute power... I want to stand up and fight for that new Zimbabwe', but I cannot. I cannot ask you to do such a thing because your President and his compatriates will have you silenced. What now Peter? What now?

Peter, my apologies for the misspelling of your name: Mavunga.