The Zimbabwe Situation - Page 5

Comrade_007 · #41 10th April 2008, 03:03 PM

Sad, but true Tjommie - democracy in our region goes only as far as it does not threaten the interests of the ruling cliques/elites. Democracy is literally skin deep, and so we should neither trust nor expect regional leaders to stand up in the face of blatant violence perpetrated by one of their own on his own people. There is little commitment beyond tokenism to true political tolerance, democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

The other thing, of course, is that the will of the people is equated to Western neo-imperialist meddling. The people actually have no or little will left, and their voice - if expressed - can be ignored without consequence. How can election results be deemed a state secret except if it is pretty obvious that the incumbent lost the vote? WHat a load of balloney. Free and fair elections? Free and fair if the ruling parties win. Rigged and manipulated by outsiders if they lose.

There is a degree of race solidarity at play, too. Dare I say it. Increasingly this is not the case with the general populations in SADC countries, because half of them are from Zimbabwe and people know about the deep suffering inflicted by the Mugabe regime on its own people. But it certainly remains the case with most members of the elites in Namibia, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique. To a lesser degree it remains the case with South Africa and Zambia. See, what goes for Mugabe and ZANU may also go for them, so they protect each other's backs shamelessly.

Let's call a spade a spade: We are not yet fit for truly democratic polities in our region, except maybe Botswana. Sure, democracy is not perfect, and it takes time to take root. But how much time, I ask? How much does it take for the rule of law to prevail, all the time? How much does it take to walk the talk, instead of talk, talk, talk and flog, flog, flog.

Witness how all other ruling parties - including SWAPO and the ANC - use outright bullying and harassment to protect their interests, usually at the expense of the wider community's well-being and development trajectory. For them the nation is their property, for them hold and behold as they please. and nobody will tell them otherwise.

Yes, I'm venting and I challenge anyone to tell me I'm wrong.

Sad, but true.

Oneword · #42 10th April 2008, 03:47 PM

At last someone really not afraid to say just how he feels.

Tjommie, it's still dog eat dog out there.

Why should they complain; they are all fat, wealthy and healthy and (more or less) peaceful. Why should they worry? Wait until the problems spill over the respective borders! Then you will see them taking action very quickly to curtail any damage.

Oneword · #43 10th April 2008, 03:55 PM

Comrade_007,

Quote:

But it certainly remains the case with most members of the elites in Namibia, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique

When you go into the history of our own country --- way, way back and then page forward to today, you will still see many of the same names popping up all over.

Once a member of the elite; always a member of the elite.

Go check!

Oneword · #44 10th April 2008, 04:33 PM

Well, Shebeeners! There is momentum!.

Just look at this latest press release from IDASA - The Institute for Democracy in South Africa. It may only be a bunch of pale sunseekers, but a voice is a voice!

Quote:

There is troubling information coming from observers still on the ground in Zimbabwe about increasing military and paramilitary mobilization breeding community-level violence. This is accompanied by increasing reports of military personnel being seen in rural communities, which raises fears of retribution similar to that seen in the wake of the Presidential Election in 2002.

The full statement is available in the Document Center

phelakuti · #45 10th April 2008, 09:35 PM

I heard a mixed reaction from the Namibian government with regard to the election results' matter in Zim. One was the cautionary tone to not meddle in pure domestic affairs of another sovereign entity. The other had been the founding father's (Dr. Nujoma) threat against Britain and imperialists. He threatened that SWAPO will march to "Mugabe's Zim" side in case imperialists including Britain threaten his position.

Where does the government stand? Who speaks for the nation? And how about the voices of the people? Are we so flabbergasted that no one bother to even sqeal out of empathy?

I guess others are rightfully prudent to stay out of such topics, neh.

juikk · #46 10th April 2008, 09:54 PM

Well I am for one curious what Hon. Pohamba think of matters in the Zim? Anyone know?

phelakuti · #47 10th April 2008, 10:18 PM

This theme has been accurately pinpointed and reiterated by many. The problem manifests itself in the majority goverment concept. Where its origin is a democratic hypothesis that produces an undemocratic environment in practice. Some had once opined that a popular majority can be tyranical. The process of crafting modern national constitutions could envisage these inherent weaknesses had it not been for the vice and caprices of the very would be majority's influence at the onset. It is therefore imperative to always seek to make the necessary amendments that otherwise could have been incorporated at the beginning. Otherwise, there could be no democracy. And no meaningful peace and tranquility.

phelakuti · #48 10th April 2008, 10:34 PM

Perhaps, the president had gone by his predecessor's reaction. Since Mr. Nujoma was a guest of honor at the side of Bob at one of the rallies in Zim. It is certainly a lame but human to use the not-to-meddle in private matters kind of excuse. It is however not taken lightly here in western Europe the threat of such magnitude---national government (even when he said SWAPO) senior leader's declaration of belligerence towards England, in particular. England had taught Amin a lesson and had just done so for Bob. If Namibia is praying for it is bound to receive some. In contrast, if one seeks blessings even for USSR or Red China, they are brought back into the fold. This is where Namibia's future generations need to be. With Botswana, SA, Zambia, England and the rest. Not with the rogues.

Oneword · #49 10th April 2008, 10:58 PM

Juikk,

In +- 7 075 words of the State of the Nation Address of today (10 April 2008), the word "Zimbabwe" appears only ONCE:

Quote:

This regional focus was strengthened with the creation of Walvis Bay Corridor Group as well as the Trans Caprivi, Trans Kalahari, Trans Kunene and Trans Orange initiatives, linking the Ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz with Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe via the surfaced road network. This new orientation will reposition Namibia as a key player in regional economic integration and seaborne trade between SADC and the rest of the world.

Oneword · #50 11th April 2008, 02:05 PM

Reading - as I usually do - I came upon this very interesting article from Mbendi (mail_admin@mbendi.com). I think it worth reprinting and reading:

Quote:

Back in September 2006, we published an editorial looking at the challenges to a new Zimbabwe government in the event that Zimbabwe's President Mugabe moved on. With the opposition MDC having officially won the parliamentary elections and with the prospect of Morgan Tsvangirai becoming the new president, we thought it would be opportune to republish that editorial with a few minor changes to cope with the present circumstances....

The most immediate problem the MDC will face is tens of thousands of people on the verge of starvation. No doubt the aid agencies would step in smartly to take care of the immediate emergency supplies but how do they get back to Zimbabwe, the breadbasket of Central Africa? Many of the experienced farmers and their staff have left the country or moved to the cities to eke out an existence. Even if they had the finances, they would be reluctant to invest again in land, infrastructure and the working capital needed for wages, seed, livestock and fertiliser for fear of another round of confiscations.

Which leads us on to the next problem they will face - who is the legitimate owner of what? Whether one looks at the Mongol hordes swarming over Asia, America's pioneers driving Indians into desolate reservations or the Matabele and Europeans helping themselves to African land, history is replete with stories of conquerors taking the spoils to themselves. Now we live in a modern, civilised age where that isn't meant to happen so what do we do about Mugabe's cronies, rewarded for their loyalty with state confiscated land and facilities? And what about state assets hocked to the Libyans and Chinese in exchange for oil and weapons? Or the millions Mugabe is reputed to have salted away in Malaysia? Do you nationalise them, return them to previous owners or find some other way to get them back in the hands of those who would make best use of them?

On the surface, the next problem is easier to handle, bringing back the rule of law. Free and fair elections can be held and the new parliament can enact legislation that is in the best interests of all. The problem is the now insecure security chiefs, the lawless gangs, the corrupt police and, to a lesser extent, the bent judiciary who are part and parcel of implementing the legislation. One only has to look at Iraq to see the consequences of a wholesale sacking of the enforcers of the previous regime to realise the possible consequences of replacing the incumbents. Sure, some of the senior officers will need to be replaced, but the lower levels will have to be re-educated. There has to be a no-nonsense approach to gangs and vigilante groups.

The problem that gets the most attention these days, albeit as small items on the centre pages of international newspapers rather than with the front page headlines of yesteryear, revolves around 170 000+% inflation and the rapidly weakening currency. Chopping three zeroes off the currency hasn't helped a whit and, in fact, it's caused even more hardship. Perhaps the answer is to replace the Zimbabwe dollar with the Rand, thus at the same time paving the way towards a regional currency. Price controls need to be lifted, but in a way that balances the interests of employers, workers and consumers, no mean feat. Agriculture, energy, mining and manufacturing need to be put back on their feet before the balance of trade gets further out of control.

There was a time when Zimbabwe had one of the best education systems in Africa, turning out matriculants and graduates with world class qualifications. Many of these have seen the writing on the wall and emigrated to South Africa - currently estimated to shelter more than two million Zimbabweans - and further afield. Like the farmers, they need not just opportunities but some certainty about life back in the motherland. There need to be carrots to bring back talented Zimbabweans and incentives to get the tourists streaming back.

Finally there is the issue of restoring trust - between the government and the global community, between races and tribes and most important, between individuals, oppressors and oppressed. Perhaps this can only be achieved through a version of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation process, specially for those who perpetrated the tribal killings of the early 1990s.

We watch with interest to see how Zimbabwe's new government, and their supporters around the world, cope with these challenges. We also hope the message of the power of the people, even in adverse circumstances, is dawning on other African leaders who believe they have a god-given right to misrule their countries forever between fraudulent displays of democracy.

View Poll Results: Do you believe the second round of the March harmonised elections in Zimbabwe were free and fair?
Yes, they were	31	14.22%
No, they were not	123	56.42%
I'm not sure	64	29.36%
Voters: 218. You may not vote on this poll

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.theshebeen.org/news-politics/5226-zimbabwe-situation.html
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