Zimbabwe extraditing Mengistu, a great African irony

The Times of London is reporting that high on the list of priorities of the new Zimbabwean government of national unity will be the extradition of the former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam. This is of course the genius who headed the military junta, known as “The Derg”, which ruled that country from 1974 to 1987 whereafter he became president of the then republic.

The “Butcher of Addis” who had played his part in the military that overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie, was himself removed by a rebellion which saw him flee to Zimbabwe in 1991. He was subsequently convicted of genocide, in absentia, by an Ethiopian court and sentenced to death. Needless to say Robert Mugabe refused to extradite him back home.

Suddenly, however, the future of one of Africa’s worst tyrants looks less assured. Next week the Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change will enter a unity government with Zanu (PF) and Nelson Chamisa, its chief spokesperson, told The Times yesterday that Mengistu’s extradition to Ethiopia would be “high on the agenda” of that new administration.

“Zimbabwe should not be a safe haven or resting place for serial human-rights violators like Mr Mengistu,” he said. “We can’t shelter purveyors of injustice.” (Times)

With Mengistu believed to have been responsible for more than half a million deaths, Chamisa is of course absolutely right. He has however overlooked one small thing — hardly worth mentioning really, but I will anyway — namely that the president of Zimbabwe is well on his way to dwarfing the “accomplishments” of Mengistu and head the Genocidal Hall of Fame in the not too distant future.

In fact it wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out that those who collect the stickers for the “Genocidal Leaders of Africa” album refuse to trade you 10 Mengistus and a 100 Idi Amins for a collector’s item like Bob. Of course even that pales into insignificance when trying to obtain the incredibly rare Bob&Grace sticker — what with photographers terrified to go near her an’ all.

So how anyone is going to convince Uncle Bob to send Mengistu back to where he comes from heaven alone knows. As the Times article points out, Mengistu supplied arms to the Zanu-PF during the liberation war and has accordingly been treated as an honoured guest in Zimbabwe; his counsel even being sought on matters of “national security”.

Worse, if Mengistu is bundled off home, who will Bob have to swap massacre stories with? I mean it can’t be much fun being the only butcher at the table, trying to explain to people how enjoyable it is to annihilate your entire population, if there isn’t at least one kindred spirit there to share it with.

It’s quite an interesting chain of African historical events if you come to think of it — Mengistu supplied Bob with arms during his liberation struggle, while Bob, when he came to power, gave shelter to the ANC during apartheid. After Mengistu had wiped out half of Ethiopia, Bob the liberator gave him shelter as his way of saying thank you for the arms and the ANC, when they came into power, protected Bob as their way of thanking him for the shelter they received.

Now all of this sounds like the kind of gestures that you’d expect from your friends and why should anyone complain?

Well if you add those who were wiped out in Ethiopia to those who have died in Zimbabwe as a result of Bob and Mengistu then you might say that while it’s great to recognise friendships, a few million African lives should be considered a trifle more important than looking after old cronies.