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Africa, we have a problem
E. Ablorh-Odjidja, Ghanadot
It is not as if we are not aware of
the problem. Mugabe has arrived at the most loathing place on
our conscience, sharing space with Idi Amin of Uganda. But we
fail to say so openly. It is this failure then that is the
problem.
Today, Mugabe
is posing on the world stage as an African leader. He is there
with colleagues from other African states in Egypt, where this
year’s AU summit is being held. And somewhere within this group
is Thambo Mbeki of South Africa.
Is Mugabe’s
reality the same as Mbeki’s? It should not.
Mugabe’s
reality is a world seen through the dark prism of colonialism,
even long after independence. Therefore, any idea from the
West, regardless of its merit, is bad. No wonder the West
constantly outwits him. His insistence on longevity in office,
when by every indication he is already spent, is one such
example.
The West
insists he should quit. He insists on hanging on at all cost.
Mbeki’s
reality, however, is different or should be. After all, where
would he be now if Mandela, at age 76 and after just one term in
office, had not decided to give up the presidency?
This ought to
be the political reality of Thabo Mbeki. And it should have
governed his response to the affairs of Zimbabwe. But, so far,
he has acted out of step with this reality. He should,
therefore, be held as an accessory to the political crime that
is ongoing in Zimbabwe,”quiet diplomacy” notwithstanding.
Mugabe is in
Egypt today, posing as the president of Zimbabwe, as a result of
Mbeki’s “quiet diplomacy.” Meanwhile, the man who should have
been the president is hiding in a Dutch Embassy in Harare.
At the end of
the only legitimate elections held in Zimbabwe March this year,
it was clear that the people did not want Mugabe as president.
However, he has managed to hold on to power through chicanery,
constitutional technicality and the brutal use of political
power.
The subterfuge
employed by Mugabe in the March election, caused the stalemate
in the counting of votes, and the subsequent arrangement for a
run-off in June, which Mbeki encouraged. It should have raised
doubts in his mind, but he went along with his “quiet diplomacy”
to aid the plan to keep Mugabe in power.
The idea for a
run-off to correct an obviously flawed election was accepted by
the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
and Morgan Tsvangirai, the man who should have been the
president in Zimbabwe today. They went along with the idea
because they thought Mbeki , with his “quiet diplomacy,” had
enough hold on Mugabe to leverage some good behavior from
him. They were seriously mistaken.
Approximately
some three months later, Mugabe has staged his planned run-off.
He wasn’t ashamed that he was the only candidate. From
hindsight, one could tell that his timing was perfect. The
announcement of an assured victory was meant to coincide with
his attendance of the AU meeting in Egypt so as to gain
“legitimacy” in the face of an incredulous world. So, one hour
after victory was declared he was sworn in as the president.
The next day he was on his way to Egypt.
The AU should
have closed the door on Mugabe long before he left Zimbabwe. So
now he is there ensconced with the rest of the African heads of
state. But if the AU were to be true to its own objectives, it
would quickly recognize the dilemma. This dilemma can only be
resolved should the AU ask itself this simple question: Is the
latest Zimbabwe presidential election the example it would
recommend for the rest of Africa?
So far, the AU
has not spoken, but this silence speaks volumes about the way
its members understand the democratic process.
Perhaps, the
most revealing statement from the AU summit so far is the one
from “Africa's longest serving leader, Gabon President Omar
Bongo,” as described by the BBC.
According to
Omar Bongo, he recognizes Mugabe as president because "he was
elected, he took an oath, and he is here with us, so he is
president". His illogic is impeccable.
Directly in
opposition to Bongo is Mr. Odinga, the Prime Minister of Kenya
who is not at the AU summit. He has called for immediate
suspension of Mugabe and for the AU to send forces into Zimbabwe
to “ensure free and fair elections."
Mr Odinga
reasoning is that the “AU would set a dangerous precedent by
accepting him as a duly elected president".
Likewise,
Nelson Mandela, Mbeki predecessor and mentor, has already
accused Mugabe of a “tragic failure of leadership”
Meanwhile,
Mbeki, in accordance with his “quiet diplomacy,” has not
committed himself to any course of action or made any definitive
statement about the tragic affairs of Zimbabwe even though he is
regarded as the key to a possible peace process in Zimbabwe.
According to
the BBC, the South African president said he “would consider
reports from election observers together with other members of
the Southern African Development Community (SADC) before
adopting a unified position regarding the result.”
Mbeki could
have asked Mugabe to stay away from Egypt until the whole affair
surrounding the election is resolved. He didn’t.
Instead, Mugabe
is in Egypt, parading his “legitimacy” at the AU summit while
serving as a symbol of ridicule for Africa. This point will be
missed on Mbeki and others who will enjoy his presence in Egypt
for as long as it lasts.
And the world
will be left to conclude that events leading to the elections
and the manner in which
Tsvangirai was driven away
from running do not disturb Mbeki. His reality, thanks to
Mandela, has been very different from Mugabe’s. So he just
doesn’t care.
E.
Ablorh-Odjidja, Publisher
www.ghanadot.com,
Washington, DC, June 30, 2008
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