The Eclipse Of Zimbabwe

| Monday June 16, 2008 00:00

The regime at the time had no regard for human rights, minority rule reigned supreme. It was a difficult time. People at home and abroad had to sacrifice their lives under the banner of total freedom. In fact the world at large, the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity and other world bodies were in solidarity with the down-trodden black masses. Conferences and meetings convened in many capitals to address the Rhodesia problem.

Individuals and groups emerged and came up with strategies in an effort to remove Ian Smith from power. Talks proved futile and people had to resort to armed struggle for the total liberation of Zimbabwe. Frontline States saw it all, many a times did people in these countries sacrifice their lives. Smith, who had unilaterally declared Rhodesia independent still remained adamant to change, he insisted that there will be no independence in his life time.

When all was well and done, independence emerged from ravages of war. Like a promised land, all roads led to Zimbabwe. The veterans of war were applauded for a job well done, everybody was a comrade, a comrade in arms. Even though there were hiccups at the beginning, the tide eventually subsided.

Not so long ago the tables turned, the purported heroes and veterans changed suits to become tyrants and villains. The spirit of patriotism waned, the element of trust among the indigenous people faded. War mongering tendencies became the order of the day. The Mugabe government was intent on undermining the democratic principles it had upheld at independence. The voices of innocent souls were suppressed through the use of force. Instead of bringing peace and stability to a nation that has suffered for so long, the state machinery resorted to barbaric tactics of Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini and the rest of tyrants the world has seen. The regime is bent on harassing members of the opposition. We see the MDC (opposition) leadership being beaten up by Mugabe's state machinery and detained for no good reason.

The March 29 elections were held in accordance with the laws of the land. When all seemed well for the opposition, the 'IEC' (Independence Electoral Commission) suddenly decided to withhold election results, a serious breach of the Constitution. It had dawned on Mugabe and his henchmen that their days in power were numbered. The IEC in consonance with the Mugabe regime trampled on the Constitution by not publicising the results of the presidential elections as required by law. It was a deliberate move to allow ZANU-PF time to concoct votes and rig elections. Despite all this, the international community did not do enough to rescue the situation from anarchy. SADC countries remained mum and resorted to silent diplomacy. These governments should have taken a tougher stand on the Mugabe regime, a position that would make the rest of the world to have a lasting confidence on member countries.

A decision to have a re-run of presidential elections was taken and the dates were set. The same regime continued to torture members of the opposition. Even from the start, the atmosphere has been far from calm. The state machinery continues to lock up the leadership of the opposition in cells with no good reasons. What opportunity is there for the opposition to meaningfully prepare for the end of month presidential elections? Still the international community is not exerting enough pressure to bring the situation to normality. The world is literally watching Zimbabwe go to ruins. This time around, silent diplomacy has not yielded good results but has rather brought about misery and death.

Current events clearly are good indicators that sharing a government, particularly in Zimbabwe, cannot work. Zimbabwe is sinking deeper than the 'Titanic' and the world is just watching!

Aobakwe Mothusi Sekgwa
Gaborone