3 July 2008
editorial
The African Union (AU) Summit in Egypt has ended and so have the dreams of Zimbabwean people who pinned their hopes on this hopeless organisation.
We never expected anything from a bunch of leaders, most of whom are in power through means that would make Mugabe's one man run-off elections a heavenly affair. What should you expect from the likes of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, Swaziland's King Mswati and many other African dictators who do not understand the ways of democracy?
The AU has called for a government of national unity in Zimbabwe. Is this the best that the AU can do? Mugabe persecutes his people by unleashing state apparatus on them, denies them the right to elect a leader of their choice and African leaders decide to turn a blind eye to all these merely to protect a fellow despot. Instead we have fellow travellers such as Omar Bongo of Gabon calling on African leaders to accept Mugabe's sham elections.
In calling for a government of national unity, what is the AU saying? Who is going to ensure that this recommendation is implemented? Surprisingly, it is the hapless South African Thabo Mbeki who is going to oversee this process. The man has completely failed the people of Zimbabwe and the democratic world in his partisan mediation in Zimbabwe.
Mbeki is simply a Mugabe apologist. Africa should regret ever wasting time and resources on Mbeki's mediation. This AU project is bound to fail even before it starts. Mbeki is the wrong person to be driving this process. He has not shown he is capable of handling the crisis in Zimbabwe. Why do they burden a man who does not even recognise that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe?
We in Botswana are, however, gratified that our government, at least this time, has taken a resolute stand and renounced the illegitimate government of Robert Mugabe. For a long time, Botswana has been too timid to take the leadership as Africa's oldest and most vibrant democracy. We have a duty to export democracy to the rest of Africa and the world. If Botswana does not take leadership in matters such as these, upstarts such as South Africa would step in and mess up. This will give dictators such as Mugabe room to thrive and democracy will be threatened. We are one of the few countries in Africa that can climb the moral high ground to tell Mugabe that he is way out of line.
The Khama government should actually move faster and tell Mugabe that we do not recognise his government. We should even recall our envoy in Zimbabwe.
Let us now take leadership and protect democracy, and hopefully we will knock some sense into the region. For a very long time, we have suffered the indignity of being clubbed together with the rest of the bloody dictatorships in Africa. We need to distinguish ourselves from this motley crew. Our reputation as a democracy is at stake.
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The only way we will see change is to penalise Mugabe's allies, particularly South Africa (blame Mugabe's brother-in-law Thabo Mbeki). The 2010 World Cup should rather be held in England. How can Mbeki remain impartial towards his own brother-in-law? If Africa won't sort out this African problem then I call for sanctions to be imposed by the UN and the West on all countries with close ties with Zimbabwe i.e. South Africa and China (We should boycott the Beijing Olympics). Stop the killing! Stop the maiming and mutilation! No more abuse and human rights violations from this arrogant murderer and dictator and his brothers in arms. If this were Ian Smith, or for that matter any white ruler, would the world allow this behavior to continue? Where are the Anti-Apartheid activists now? Is this behaviour any better than apartheid? He is a racist and a murderer. Let the Hague deal with him. Countries like Zambia, Kenya and Botswana should be rewarded for speaking out against this monster. If Africa and the world at large can "interfere" in South Africa to bring an end to Apartheid then they can do the same to end this racism and bring about peace and stability in Zimbabwe once more.
I am azimbabwean living in Canada and I just want to thank the President of Botswana for finally not being scared of what the next person will say but worry about the humanity of another human being simply because we are all human. It doesn't matter if you are a president or not. Mugabe just needed some of that cash talk and stop beating about the bush like most leaders are doing most probably because they are as corrupt and love tho dictate like Mugabe. Thanks to Kenya, Nigeria,Zambia, Liberia and all te other countries that understand what we are going through in Zimbabwe for standing up for. This is the beginning of a new Africa Democracy.
Well, You are well placed there. Stay there. Incase you come back don't think we will be after you. You Decided to abadon your land. There are others there who are afraid to come back to Africa, they know what they did. I know one personally from my region. Mother Nature will catch up on you. The countries you mentioned all have lazy people. Do not make us say the whole truth. Lazy you because you cannot work Africas's Landscapes. We need food security by us. Not man-made starvation you don't understand.
Great piece From an outsiders perspective Botswana seems like one of the most progressive countries in SADC Let's hope the good governance and development spreads
Zimbabwe wake up to the propanganda coming from the Western Media. Its is amazing how if Zimbabwe is the least happiest nation on earth the West are so determined to liberate us, what for? Darfur and Somalia have had problems for more than 15 years how come the UN, US AND UK do not send a peace keeping force, but they want to send one to Zimbabwe, which is not even at war. Now they are trying to organise an uprising to destabilise Zimbabwe and cause untold suffering.
Its nothing more than spoilers, if a nation wants to develop itself without their assistance, that wont be accepted. Why? China is gaining influence and benefitting the black nations which have never enjoyed thier freedom, because the Europeans have made it impossible for us to enjoy it, except to only trust the White man. William Lynch in 1712, a former Slave owner taught that method of controll. This wont work in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai is not a leader and therefore, the west bet on the three legged horse, and now they are trying all means to install him President. The Zimbabweans will not accept that for this is not the US or UK as its our country.
Our resolve is not to be fooled, as who benefits when we fight against each other?
notha4ever-For the sake of argument I will assume your premise is correct and the west bet on a 3-legged horse and that it should now mind its own business. But please tell us under-informed outsiders, what really is going on in Zimbabwe? Why are there media reports about the abuses of Mr Mugabe's government against his own people coming from western media as well as African media? Why is the government denying food aid to the starving? Why were opposition supporters imprisoned? Are your people happy, prosperous and flourishing? Please let us understand what is really going on there.
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An interesting link here, that shows just how the people of Zimbabwe have been betrayed by the AU. http://www.2shared.com/file/3543901/d52eb63e/Pargue36_equi.html. By condoning this, the AU has also betrayed - and shown contempt for - the people of Africa.