Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
Peter Henriot SJ
4 December 2008
opinion
"Yes, Zambia has problems - but thank God, we're not Zimbabwe!" I've heard this remark several times recently and even repeated it myself. But I never appreciated its full meaning so much until I listened last week to several close Zimbabwean friends tell me about what they are experiencing these days in our neighbour to the south. They had come to a meeting in South Africa that I was attending, analysing the future of democracy in our region.
They told me stories of terrible suffering and asked me not to forget them when I returned to Zambia. "Put Zambia's problems in context - and shout about Zimbabwe's problems," they told me! My friends are Zimbabweans, very nationalistic; very patriotic; working for social needs of the people in church-related institutions. They can't be accused of being British lackeys!
Well, I was deeply moved by what they told me and so here are a few of my shouts. I ask you to hear these shouts and then yourselves ask the same questions I will ask at the end of this column.
Rigged politics
The news the past few days is that perhaps some power-sharing agreement has been reached between Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Tsvangirai's MDC. My friends warned me not to take too easily the "agreement" language and gestures. For what can you expect, they say, from a set of politicians who were defeated in March elections but rigged the results in order to have a run-off? And then when it was evident that the Ruling Party would also lose the run-off in May, they launched a terrorist campaign that crowded out the opposition from any "free and fair" chance of repeating their March victory.
Were the March elections "rigged" to deny the MDC a victory? Simply ask what happened to the vote count from the results posted immediately outside polling stations (like we had here in Zambia for the 30 October elections). Independent observers state that Tsvangirai received more than the required 50 percent of votes, certainly more than the 47.9 percent awarded to him after a one month - yes, that is one month! - delay to announce "official" results.
Mugabe and his friends - including commanders of the armed forces - have publicly made it quite clear that they will never accept any popular election results that go against the "sovereignty" established by the "liberation war." That "sovereignty" is embodied in Mugabe himself. Hence the manipulation of elections, the reneging on agreements, and the blaming of all criticism on former colonialists and their sympathisers!
Violent politics
While political disputes rage on, the effects of present and past violence corrodes any real sense of democracy. Who gives orders to arrest opposition leaders and sympathisers, to suppress popular demonstrations, to destroy homes and businesses in urban areas considered to be supportive of MDC, to unleash "war veterans" and youth militias against their fellow citizens?
Intense fear is the order of the day. Understandably, this is what keeps ordinary citizens off the streets, since peaceful demonstrations are strictly forbidden. And when they are attempted, they are dealt with in a bloody fashion.
Collapsed economy
But even more widespread than the political violence adopted to maintain the current rulers in power is the economic and social violence perpetrated against the vast majority of the population.
The Post newspaper of Zambia reported that the Governor of the Bank of Zimbabwe was this past week re-appointed (on what constitutional grounds, since no formal government has yet been mandated?) to preside over an official inflation rate of 231 million percent, but an unofficial and more realistic rate of 89.7 sextillion percent. That's 89,000,000,000,000,000,000,000%!!
The economy has almost completely come to a halt, and only major foreign currency is readily accepted. Severe shortages of basics like food and fuel are the order of the day. Electricity and water are turned off in Harare and elsewhere. Sewerage and garbage disposal has closed down, with the consequent frightening rise in cholera. Hunger is widespread as charitable agencies struggle to provide provisions for almost one-half the population in the months ahead.
Hospitals and clinics face shortages of everything but patients, especially now as the cholera epidemic spreads (already over 400 deaths in the past several weeks). Educational institutions are not functioning, as teachers (those who have remained in the country) struggle for wages that wouldn't even cover transport costs to get to their schools.
Deceitful denials
What makes the situation described above so very sad is that the persons in power, from Mugabe down, simply deny there are any problems in their country. At least not any problems that they could be blamed for! People really aren't hungry or sick, the economic situation really isn't that bad after all, and any political difficulties are the products of the imperialist/colonialists and their MDC puppets.
So strong is the denial mode of operation that highly respected world figures like Jimmy Carter, Koffi Annan and Graca Michel could be turned away from a humanitarian visit on grounds that their visit was not only not necessary but was politically motivated to oppose Mugabe and friends.
One can only wonder whether the leaders themselves believe the stories that they tell others. Do they go out into the urban compounds and rural wastelands and see, hear and smell the devastation they daily cause? Mansions and Mercedes may protect them from the tragic realities of their sister and brother Zimbabweans, but what about their consciences?
So what?
Ok, at this point the reader can ask me, so what difference does my shouting make and what could we do? For Zambia, the collapse of Zimbabwe is a disaster not only for the citizens of that sad country but also for us here, living in a country with some problems but overall a truly blessed country. So here are some questions we should ask - and look for some immediate answers!
1. What is the Zambian government's official policy towards the increasing number of refugees fleeing here from our neighbour? Because of the cholera epidemic, will Zimbabweans continue to be turned away in Livingstone? What about the growing number of Zimbabwean women now selling (vegetables and themselves!) on the streets of Lusaka?
2. What is the response of the Zimbabwean High Commissioner in Lusaka to the analysis made here and elsewhere that challenges both the legitimacy and the morality of the current regime in power? Can the Commissioner explain why so many fellow citizens are fleeing into Zambia? Remember, this is Zambia, a country whose citizens sacrificed much in lives and prosperity to assist in the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe.
3. What is the stance of President Rupiah Banda toward the Zimbabwean crisis? Is there any part of the Mwanawasa "legacy" of courageous challenge that endures in his official position? Will he exercise moral leadership in the SADC region?
So these are the shouts I promised my Zimbabwean friends. Any echoes here in Zambia?
[The writer is director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, Lusaka, Zambia]
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Are the people of Zimbabwe total morons? are they idiots? are they brainless numbsculls??? Get rid of mugabe, what the hell is wrong with you?? Where in your life have you ever heard of an inflation rate of over 200 million percent???? an unemployment rate of nearly 90 percent??? GET REAL!!! either live with it and stop complaining or DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!
If it's so easy, why don't YOU "get rid of Mugabe?" It's harder than you think, "getting rid of" someone protected by his own private army, especially when you can't even scrounge up enough food to survive on, let alone guns and ammo to fight a war or even a launch a successful guerilla attack.
Like it or not, it is possible to want something badly enough to sacrifice your life for it, and still not get it. Overthrowing Mugabe and his army is one of those things, as the MDC is finding out.
Apart from rigging the elections they even forged the agreement document. So we cant expect much from these thugs.
A certain refrain is that as Zambians, Mr Banda has to take a stand against the Zimbabwean regime out of touch with the desires of the current generation, that as populations age and social, economic and judicial conditions change, their time is long gone, and the region is poised for another painful step forward in governing principles.
The fact is that Mugabe and cronies can no longer govern. Their minds and perceptions are so warped they refuse to really see the terrible misery right under their noses. What I would advise our president is that since he's only been elected to rule for the reminder of the former president's term and at his age will not run for another term in 2011 per assurances, then this is the perfect opportunity to define his legacy and cast aside the perception of a caretaker president.
The fact is that amid a global economic recession that will challenge developed nations to find lasting solutions, there is nothing Mr Banda can substantially achieve except to help safeguard the national economy the best way he can. However, there is one important effort he can make to bring down a most despicable dictator in the south. Mugabe is worse than Ida Amin because he is supposed to be an educated and enlightened person holding at least 6 degrees.
In today's Zimbabwe, he can't even provide a decent education to the numerous youth who support him. In any case, they have nothing tangible to do and the only exciting outlet is to act out a bad movie and terrorize their communities much like an offended character from grand theft auto.
So Mr Banda, hear my voice and man up against your deranged big brother and tell him to sit his butt down and watch the sun set from his madness.
The reaction is waxing in words of war. Now, cowards, if you wish to "overthrow" Mugabe, then do it.
You know you are spineless empty vessels; otherwise you would have done something. I suppose I am not the one to INFORM you of the lethal consequences of any illegal essay to outst THE REIGNING GOVERNMENT IN HARARE. THE LAW IS UNEQUIVOCALLY CLEAR ABOUT THAT AND MORE.
You want to overthrow MUGABE? GO AHEAD!
What are you waiting for? I'll tell you: cowardice.
Spineless tails of the reaction, led by the ueber spineless sprinter, MT, the most naive politico Africa ever sired , your 'support' ends here in this Forum, and you know it. Otherwise, you'd have gone mano mano with the FIST OF AFRICA.
You should be grateful to the proprietors of allafrica.com for giving you the opportunity to vent your harmless venom.
J-hollow:
They are words of war...... There is actually a war going on inside Zimbabwe right now - ZANU-PF/Mugabe is at war against their own people! The people of Zimbabwe will themselves eventually rise up, when they have nothing else to hope for, they'll forget their fear of death and rise up against ZANU-PF and most of all against Comrade Bob. The Politburo and Comrade Bob himself will most likely meet their end in front of a firing squad in Harare, and they'll probably have to hold a lottery for the spots on the firing squad!
All you ever chirp about here is the "fighter" Mugabe, but he is not the "Great" fighter, he is not even a great man, because great men do not allow their people to suffer as he and his cronies have....... Only people like Kim Sung Il and Kim Jong Il, Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Idi Amin, Nicolas Ceaucescu, et al, ask their people to continue suffer (and stifle any complaints by killing their opponents) without any hope for the future.
You never bother to explain why the "fighter" has failed his country so miserably. You never explain or defend 90% unemployment, you never defend the "fighter's" inability to provide clean drinking water to his people, you never explain why inflation is "officially" 231 MILLION percent, you never explain how the "fighter" has allowed an easily treated disease ravage his entire country, you never explain why all the hospitals are now closed, you never explain why the schools are closed, you never explain why at least 47 percent of Zimbabweans voted against ZANU-PF/Mugabe in March.
The "Law" as you so casually explain as "unequivocally clear" about overthrowing the government of ZANU-PF/Mugabe was written by - guess who? - ZANU-PF/Mugabe. A law outlawing someone from calling for the "overthrow" of a government is reasonable in and of itself (we have a similar law in America). However, the "Law" also states that prisoners have a right of Habeus Corpus - something ZANU-PF/Mugabe have ignored. A high court ruling actually ordered ZANU-PF/Mugabe to produce the prisoners they have abducted - it's been a month now and no one seems to know where they are - yet another example of ZANU-PF/Mugabe casually picking and choosing which laws they like and want to enforce versus laws they don't like and choose to ignore. Under the "Law", ZANU-PF/Mugabe are in contempt of court and should be put into the dock to explain why they have no complied with a High Court Order!
Anyway, MDC-T has never called for the "overthrow" of the government. They instead chose to contest the presidency through the ballot box, which is also a guaranteed right under the Zimbabwean Constitution - I guess that's another example of a "Law" ZANU-PF/Mugabe doesn't like. When individual polling precincts tally that MDC-T has beaten ZANU-PF/Mugabe, all they had to do (aside from killing ZEC officials who complained about the number of ballots printed) was complain they needed more time to tabulate the results (meaning cook the results to ensure there would be a run-off) which only took 5 weeks! Ironically, the June "election" results (which the SADC declared was NOT free and fair) came out within several days of the "election". At the present, the "fighter" is not a legitimate head of state because a GNU has not been formed, there is no official "Government" at this time. Since the June "election" was NOT "free and fair" (according to the SADC) there is actually no legitimately elected head of state in Zimbabwe at the present time.
No one is coming from outside Zimbabwe to "overthrow" ZANU-PF/Mugabe, the people of Zimbabwe will eventually do it themselves with perhaps a little support from their true friends in the region.
Hilariously, the "Great Fighter" cannot even keep his own political party together at the moment. The Zimbabwean Army is only 30,000 troops anyway (most of them not operationally equiped or motivated) - a few elite units cannot subjugate an entire country! ZANU-PF/Mugabe cannot even "rattle their sabres" to threaten their neighbors because they do not have the operational capacity to engage in war and their neighbors know this. ZANU-PF/Mugabe cannot properly pay, equip and support the Army, the lower ranks in the Army have taken to rioting and looting, how seriously do you think neighboring countries would take their threats? The only thing ZANU-PF/Mugabe can mobilize at the present is thugs who torture, rape and murder - Total Empowerment!
Zimbabwe is slowly slipping from ZANU-PF/Mugabe's death grip, the "Old Man" probably hopes he dies before the judgement of his people rests upon him. He will not be revered by his people in the future, his memory will be spat upon by Zimbabweans as the man who helped liberate Zimbabwe from Ian Smith's racist regime and them left his people in worse condition than when they were liberated. He will not lay in state, he will not be buried in Heroes Acre, his body will be burned and the ashes scatted across the country he and his henchmen plundered so murderously. His legacy is no greater than Idi Amin's (and I am old enough to remember the horrific pictures of Amin's torture chambers after he fell), he can only hope he escapes to a luxurious retirement as Amin did.
Even in Rhodesia, the tap water was clean and safe to drink, hospitals were open, schools were open, inflation was NOT 231 MILLION percent, the national currency had some value and people had enough to eat. If racists like Ian Smith can provide clean water, healthcare, education and enough food for the people of Zimbabwe to feed themselves, please explain why ZANU-PF/Mugabe cannot!
So go ahead and keep up your chirping about the "fighter". Merely saying "Mugabe is Great" over and over does not in fact make it so. The implosion of the economy, healthcare, education and public sanitation systems while under the prior ZANU-PF/Mugabe government speak far louder of Mugabe's failures as a leader than any ZANU-PF propaganda you will undoubtedly continue to spout.
"Total Empowerment"!
People of Zimbabwe, how "empowered" do you feel under the oppresive yoke of ZANU-PF/Mugabe?
Great post. Zimbabwe's slide continues. Mugabe's "government" is falling apart. The Army's rioting, the cant afford to run a government, the people have voted against them, its only a matter of time.
See all comments (16).
The story here is that ol'Bob orchestrated this pandemic hiself so to get his hands on foreign exchange 'cause he plans to leave us here early next year. I hope this is true!