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The Voice (Francistown)

Zimbabwe: Crisis - African Leaders Should Intervene

22 April 2008

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The wind of change is blowing through this continent, and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact. We must all accept it as a fact, and our national policies must take account of it. - Harold Macmillan (British Prime Minister, 1957-1963).

On 3 February 1960, a British Prime Minister made the above statement that has been quoted not a billion times but more than a trillion plus times about change in the African continent.

Now, almost 50 years later, Africa is still undergoing unpleasant political change.

That through European imperialism, Europe expanded its power by taking over other continents was an evil that was fought and blood was shed.

The 'imperialists' crossed the sea to colonise Africa among other continents taking control and cheating our chiefs off their land; through trading, religious missions, sheer adventure, settlement and looting, to name a few.

But it seems imperialism and enslavement have taken a new face. African leaders have turned themselves into looters and dictators.

Gone are the days of blaming 'imperialists' for our state of affairs in Africa.

We, Africans should be ashamed of ourselves as we seem not to be capable of running our own affairs.

African leaders like Zimbabwean President Robert 'Uncle Bob' Mugabe and Kenya's Mwai Kibaki cling on to power not only through bloodshed but through economic strife which results in enslavement and poverty.

What is the reluctance on the part of African leaders to intervene in this current crisis facing those countries, and this is not to mention Darfur and other atrocities happening in our independent African states?

We may be accused of meddling in the affairs of other countries, but did we not lose the lives of our citizens during both the 'Rhodesian' and South African struggles?

We did and we paid heavily for those freedom struggles. The sons and daughters of our land died for the freedom of those countries.

We hopped with joy when Zimbabwe got independent in 1980.

We belong to the era where, many who were fighting for freedom fled into our countries as refugees. We were taught by the refugees from both 'Rhodesia' and South Africa.

We were taught freedom slogans like Pamberi ne Chimurenga! (Forward with the Struggle!) by our Zimbabwean teachers and we were taught that 'White imperialists' were the ills of the world.

Now, we are disgusted to see how Old 'Uncle Bob' is tenaciously clinging to power and turning some of his people into desperate muggers and slaves who are taking refuge not only in our country but in other countries as well. What are African leaders doing? How can it not be their problem when in Botswana alone we don't have the correct statistics of the residents of this country due to the invasion of Zimbabweans who daily flood our borders seeking employment in a country that also faces a high rate of unemployment?

This is a thought to ponder. Our leaders should urge Uncle Bob to do the right thing and give the Zimbabweans back their pride.

This is an African problem and it is high time African leaders take responsibility for the affairs of this continent.

That President Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama met with Zimbabwe's opposition and the current SADC forum in Lusaka gave us a glimmer of hope that something will be done about Zimbabwe.

But we wait to see where this will lead. Enjoy your weekend and let's pray that our President with a long name, will finally bring the Zimbabwe issue to final rest. He doesn't waste time, our President. We are so proud that he is acting on this issue.

Stimulating the soul

WHEN A part of the body is stimulated, pleasure arises. When your soul is stimulated, love arises. Love has no end, but pleasure ends?

Often people think pleasure is love. The distinction between pleasure and love has to be understood. Only the luckiest wil understand.

Just as you eat sugar and stimulate the tongue, music stimulates the ears and sight stimulates the eyes. And what stimulates the soul? All that one wants is the stimulation of the soul .

Even a faint idea of it keeps life going. Every other stumulus is on the surface. The stimulus of the soul energises and the stimulus of the body brings tiredness.

Every stimulus should lead you to the Self so that when you listen to music you transcend the music, and when you listen to knowledge it takes you to silence.

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