West must lift sanctions on Zimbabwe

If regard is had to the approach being taken by US President Barack Obama in respect of dictatorships in general and the ongoing crisis in Iran in particular, then the decision to persist with sanctions against Zimbabwe is not only unfair, it’s cruel.

In his new approach to foreign policy Obama has made it clear that democracy is no longer the be-all and end-all when it comes to accepting states into the fold. Indeed it is rather a case of assessing their attitude towards the US, as well as ongoing stability and their approach towards certain fundamental human rights.

Speaking from the White House today the president condemned the actions of the government of Iran in dealing with protestors but still allowed a back door to the Supreme Leader and President Ahmadinejad by confirming that if their handling of the situation on the ground was acceptable then world recognition was not beyond them.

This was in the face of clear voting irregularities, threats and violence against the people of Iran and a steadfast refusal by the Guardian Council to even entertain the vote being annulled.

Now far be it from us in Africa to prescribe to the U.S.A and indeed the West how they should conduct their foreign policy — it is a matter best left to the administration responsible therefore — what we do expect is that it be handled with a measure of consistency which is clearly not the case here.

Zimbabwe has by dint of former president Thabo Mbeki’s unwavering dedication and patience somehow managed to cram the Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC into a government of national unity (GNU). The fact that Zimbabwe was tantamount to a dictatorship previously is neither here nor there if the current approach of the US is to be explained. Indeed it has reached out to many dictatorships in the Muslim world and beyond.

Accordingly to single out Zimbabwe is not only unfair but counter-productive to the millions of Zimbabweans who have accepted the GNU in order to begin the long process of recovery.

The country is currently moving towards stability, starting to re-impose the rule of law and is certainly trying to reach out to the West. Surely a prime candidate to be brought back into the fold thereby benefiting not only the people in that country but the region as well.

Whatever President Mugabe’s faults — and they are too many to mention here — he has never suggested nuking an African country as is the case of the president of Iran with whom Obama openly seeks reconciliation.

As Africans living in the SADC, a healthy Zimbabwe would be of benefit to the region as a whole. Moreover if Ahmadinejad is capable of redemption then Mugabe should be given the Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s time to give Zimbabwe a break.