The Namibian (Windhoek)
25 July 2008
Many people were taken by surprise by the news that Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, and opposition Movement for Democratic Change's Morgan Tsvangirai, had agreed to meet after years of open animosity between the two.
[ See Article ]
Your position must be hailed as being a fresh look over the shoulder at what ugly things are taking place in the neighbouring country at the instigation of maverick bloodstained Mugabe.
Namibia has started taking bold positions lately against violence in Zimbabwe. That's encouraging, coming from a country that, like Zimbabwe, had to fight a liberation war to gain independance. Namibia has also gone through a smooth transfer of power.
Maverick Mugabe, as much a hero at the beginning, made a U-turn. He refused to hand over power to a younger generation. Instead, with the active collusion of his cronies, he is steadily exterminating the commoners. If he succeeds soon, he will be left without any subjects. If he clings to power and the talks collapses, another 5 million Zimbabweans will ran away to seek shelter in neighbouring countries.
It's encouraging that the editorial supports Amnesty International's call for no pardon.
Please let us begin to be realistic about the situation in Zimbabwe. First of all, after all the dust has settled, agreements signed, hand shaking is over, there will be little or no change in Zimbabwe. Past history of Mugabe and company has shown that whatever the situation Mugabe will implement or not implement change depending on how that change affects his position. ZANU-PF will continue to be the political power in the country. MDC cannot even begin to compete with ZANU-PF in any arena. The power behind the throne, JOC, CIO, police, whatever, will never agree with any changes that decrease their power. The only real way to end the situation in Zimbabwe is what everyone is trying to prevent. Civil war is the only answer. Many African leaders realize this, don't want it to happen on their shift, and thus are doing anything to prevent it. Possibly these leaders also can see a Zimbabwe civil war spreading into their country. Many African countries hold onto power using the same tools as Mugabe. What is really needed in Zimbabwe and perhaps much of southern Africa is a separation between the government and the political party in power. In much of Africa the government and the ruling political party are one and the same. Much of the rest of the world has been able to come to grips with this fact. Africa has not, to date. Lastly Africa must know that this constant bickering, fighting, violence, political terrorism, are hurting the entire area much more than just one country. Does Africa think that the troubles in Zimbabwe are confined to that country's borders? No, foreign investors look at southern Africa as a unit, not as a bunch of subunits. Trouble in Zimbabwe is also trouble for South Africa, trouble for Zambia, trouble for all the southern Africa countries. African leadership must see this and act properly. When, not if, civil war starts in Zimbabwe the effects will be very wide spread. Every country in the area will be directly and negatively affected. But then, in the past, African leadership has been very blind, unable to see anything expect a colonial backdrop. The colonial wars are long since over. Independence was won more than a generation ago. We cannot keep fighting a war that has been won and is finished. Looking backwards is never the proper way to move into the future. Thank you for reading my mail.
I think that future corruption in the politics of Zimbabwe can be prevented by creating a term limit similar to that which we have in the United States. It seems that the roots of Mr. Mugabe grew to deeply into the government resulting in mass corruption.