Once upon a time, there was a grouping called the frontline states whose main purpose was to fight the detestable apartheid in South Africa.

At the time, southern African leaders including President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe successfully fought for the end of racial discrimination in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. It was a fight for respect, dignity, democracy and freedom, the highest ideals in human existence.

Mugabe and his ZANU-PF were in the thick of action in this noble fight that eventually delivered Zimbabwe, South African and Nambia from the clutches of racial supremacists. It was a time of great hope for the region when Zimbabwe got independence in 1980.

But 28 years later, the story is completely different.

Mugabe has become a veritable monster, tormenting, oppressing and killing his people. There is no democracy in Zimbabwe. Opposition politicians are harrassed, tortured and killed. Mugabe is running a police state like the colonialists - or worse.

There is no oppression that is worse than the one between a brother-to- brother or a sister-to-a-sister. That an African leader who emancipated his country from colonialism can turn into a monster in this age and era of political pluralism and greater freedoms is indeed, sad. It is not only a betrayal of the struggle, but an insult to the forefathers whose ideals were to free this continent from oppression of whatever kind.

The likes of Julius Nyerere, Augustinho Neto, Sir Seretse Khama and Samora Machel to name a few would recommend very strong action against an oppressive regime like that of Mugabe and not the kind of pussy-footing that is currently taking place in the region. For the umpteenth time, we repeat the call that Mugabe must be told that his time is up by SADC leaders.

This is not the time to mince words or to engage an ill-guided exercise called silent diplomacy. Regional leaders must stand together and tackle the Zimbabwe problem head-on. Already the region is suffering because of the intransigence of one man. How cowardly can our leaders be that they cannot even handle an ageing despot with no money to buy paper to print a single passport.

The time when dictators were coddled is long gone and it is a serious indictment that a region that fought so hard against oppressors is now baby-sitting a dictator.