Zimbabwe is not an election, it's a hostage drama

With the news of President Mbeki calling on Mugabe and Tsvangirai to meet and avoid continuation of the violence engineered by Robert Mugabe, Zanu-PF and their allies, I couldn’t help but admire the no-nonsense approach of African reporters. Andre Le Roux of the Beeld, whose headline I stole, sums it up — this is not an election it’s a hostage drama. The government, police and army are holding a gun to the people’s head while the world hops from foot to foot trying to figure out whether to throw in the teargas and storm the building, or try negotiate for the lives of the hostages.

The Sowetan editorial was outstanding: Praise for the ANC and Jacob Zuma for their tougher stance on Zimbabwe, calls for president Mbeki to talk sense into Mugabe’s head and referring to Mad Bob as …um…Mad Bob.

Kenyan reporter Njoroge Wachai writing in the Washington Post is scathing on Africa’s inaction up to now, and even looks at the question of intervention.

There are many many more if you go through Google News results for Zimbabwe.

This is ubuntu.

Africans concerned about Africans because it’s their brothers and sisters who are being butchered by a gang of thugs. Nobody is interested in Mugabe’s crap about liberators, colonialism, imperialism, racism and all the other tricks he has used to keep the world at bay so he can murder our fellow Africans. It’s just pure disgust at an African leader and his followers’ conduct

Some are calling for intervention, while others are pushing for measures designed at forcing Mugabe to accept that this time he won’t be allowed to steal an election and carry on the massacre of Zimbabwean people. I nearly called them “his people” but at this point I don’t think anyone really believes that anymore.

African states and leaders are also coming out in numbers to condemn this garbage. Belated as it might be, this ironically, might well signal the true liberation of Africa. Where Africans condemn Africans and raise the bar of expectation of what constitutes acceptable conduct. If the world sees this consistently they will know where the real problems in Africa lie and assist without fear of being condemned as racists by tyrants.

Within that lies a far more secure and prosperous future for Africa. The world’s alternative (as things stand) is to just keep pouring in aid to thugs who have created the hell in the first place and pray that some of it reaches the people it is intended for. If we look at Zimbabwe then we realise the despair that world leaders must feel when they see Mugabe, in order to win power, refusing to allow aid and placing five million Zimbabweans at death’s door. That he has just started to allow it to flow again is not down to decency, but is rather thanks to the intense sabre rattling that was being heard abroad.

As the trade unions led by Cosatu demonstrated with regard to the arms shipment destined for Mugabe, Africans can be counted on to do the right thing. Other trade unions in South Africa and Africa followed and received worldwide credit for it.

That is Africans caring about Africans.

So too must African governments do the same. Not after tens of thousands of black Africans are on the verge of starving or are being brutalised and murdered, but immediately after tyranny starts to manifest itself.

Read through those same Google News results above. More and more African leaders coming out to condemn Mugabe and the disgusting butchery being carried on in Zimbabwe. That, ladies and gentlemen, is ubuntu – not, as suggested by some on here, trying to justify why thugs who used to be considered liberators are comrades.

By following the lead of countries doing the right thing, like Botswana.

By denouncing countries who try and entrench despots and enslave their populations, like Zimbabwe.

If Africa can just capture this mood and build on it then the world might well see a continent that would be good for business.

Back home
In South Africa we have seen Julius Malema, the ANCYL chairman, trying to justify doing the wrong thing. He must stop, take a deep breath and ask himself this?

If I am committed to Jacob Zuma then what is the worst thing I could do to him right now?

Might I suggest dividing the party he gave his life for and is currently president of?

Everyone makes mistakes, just like you have right now. Don’t compound your error by insulting the country, forcing the ANC president to distance himself from a loyal supporter (you), insulting the president and government of your party’s choosing and the rest of your countrymen, many of whom are members of the ANC, were part of the very revolution you are referring to but disagree with you on policy.

The more you justify, the worse it looks and the more damage you occasion.

Apologise without justifications, rise above the nonsense and carry on as the ANCYL chairman, except a little wiser for the experience.

Being the chairman of the largest youth organisation in the country means your words and actions will be watched, analysed and judged. That’s your job.

Your constituency, the youth of the ruling party, are vital to the future of all South Africans. As the chairman of that group you will be expected to adhere to the highest standards in respect of the party and the country as a whole.

The people of South Africa expect better than what is happening to Zimbabweans. In order to achieve that we will judge our leaders on what they say and what they do. In your case we credit your stance on xenophobia and unruliness among the ANCYL in Bloemfontein, but condemn your insulting our president, government and everyone else that does not agree with your policies.

That’s my job.