Zimbabwe a Gaping Wound in Africa
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Ordinary Zimbabweans are caught between a rock and a hard place! They contend with the highest rate of inflation in the world, 80% unemployment, fuel and food shortages, the erosion and often lack of healthcare and a cholera epidemic on the one hand, and on the other a political stand-off between Western governments and a president violating their human rights, exascerbated by a largely silent stance from their African neighbours.
It seems that none of the members of the African Union, or indeed the the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are prepared to stick their heads above the parapet and call for the Southern African States to take action against Robert Mugabe for his misrule and key role in the breakdown of ‘normal’ civil life in Zimbabwe.
It seems old alliances against the colonial powers are impairing the ability of African nations to take a moral stance against their neighbour State Zimbabwe.
What they don’t seem to realise is that Robert Mugabe is not Zimbabwe, the Zimbabweans are, and they are desperate!
This may be the mantra used by Western governments in defending their regime of sanctions against what they say is specifically Mr Mugabe and his ZANU party, but counterproductively it is the ordinary citizen who is suffering. And suffering in the true sense of the word.
Ultimately it seems the world is waiting for Robert Mugabe to have an attack of conscience and throw his hands up, saying “I am sorry! I will step down! Just let my people live and experience the fruit of democracy and it’s outworking in the upholding of human rights!”
Experience has proven that no amount of moral pressure, either from within or without is going to change the man’s mind about his role in his country.
Ordinary Zimbabweans, dying in their thousands, becoming refugees in their thousands will be forgiven for wondering why it was ok to go to war against Saddam Hussein for his human rights violations, and yet not to act on behalf of Zimbabweans?
