Ousting+tyrants+no+guarantee+for+oppressed,+Madibeng+Kgwete,+Star

The Star, Johannesburg, Letters, April 16, 2007 //Edition 1//
=Ousting tyrants is no guarantee of prosperity for oppressed people=


 * Madibeng Kgwete**

As the situation in our immediate northern neighbour, Zimbabwe, further deteriorates due to economic and political turbulences, we curious observers down here in South Africa and elsewhere in the world continue to point fingers the wrong way.

In analysing the situation in Zimbabwe, we continue to propagate several wishes and hope that, by amplifying them repeatedly, they will become the rules and regulations by which Zimbabwe should be governed.

One of those wishes is that the end of Mugabe's rule heralds a new era of freedom, opportunity and progress in Zimbabwe in particular and southern Africa in general.

We refuse to learn from history and, as they say, we may be doomed to repeat it.

Many repressive regimes here in Africa and elsewhere in the world have come and gone, but their countries still face serious leadership problems to this day.

Such countries include the Democratic Republic of Congo (where Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba has recently fled the country after a warrant was issued for his arrest), Sudan - divided into two because of a long civil war - and many others.

With regard to the DRC, successive military coups there have failed to rid the country of tyranny, corruption and lawlessness. Since the assassination of Patrice Lumumba in 1960, it took the DRC more than 50 years to experience a democratic transition. Such a transition is now hanging in the balance following disagreements between Bemba and his president, Joseph Kabila.

Why, even in the face of overwhelming historical evidence, are we still refusing to accept that the removal of one repressive leader does not guarantee freedom and democracy? Why do we seem to think that pushing Mugabe out of office is the magic formula to turn Zimbabwe around? The problems in Zimbabwe are bigger than Mugabe.

The problem in Zimbabwe is lack of visionary leadership in all the political, economic and civil sectors. Generally, the people of Zimbabwe lack a sense of solidarity, firmness and the daring attitude needed in standing up to concentrated political power.

What we have seen so far is a nation led by a weak opposition movement. The top echelon of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), including leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his many spokespersons, have failed to provide leadership to the desperate masses of Zimbabweans.

The MDC has partially contributed in creating a monster out of Mugabe, firstly by refusing to acknowledge him as their legitimate president. Mugabe's previous two elections may have been controversial, but the MDC has done more harm than good by rejecting Mugabe.

They created a climate of paranoia and conspiracy theories. Now that Zimbabwe is in ruins, much attention is on South Africa, the economic and political powerhouse of the African continent and one of Zimbabwe's neighbours. But there is little South Africa can do if both warring parties in Zimbabwe continue to question one another's legitimacy.

Many have argued that South Africa should abandon its widely criticised "quiet diplomacy" and take a tougher stance against Mugabe. Such calls ignore the fact that a tougher action against Mugabe will not automatically be followed by a better Zimbabwe.

What is needed in Zimbabwe is the emergence of several strong leaders with impeccable credentials to succeed Mugabe. So far, such leaders have not been forthcoming, if ever they are there.

If the MDC is truly committed to a better Zimbabwe, it should reassure Mugabe that it would not heed the repeated line that, should he quit office, Mugabe may be prosecuted for war crimes.

A good example of what happens when you revive old wounds is Sierra Leone, where the prosecution of those who are suspected of having committed war crimes, together with former Liberian president Charles Taylor, has divided the country.


 * Madibeng Kgwete**
 * Soshanguve, Tshwane**


 * From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3779636**

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