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Zimbabweans - victims of politics of super power
By Fidas Muchemwa
January 09, 2004

Many theories have been proffered since the crisis in Zimbabwe started. Today signs are far from near, that things will change for the better. The crisis continues to deepen and people all over the globe also continues to ask the roles that our dear brothers President Mbeki, Obasanjo and Muluzi can play.

Of all the three "concerned" African statesmen, President Mbeki increasingly continues to take the center stage. Defying the outcry from the international community, President Mbeki again increasingly aligns himself with Robert Mugabe. After the Commonwealth debacle of 5-8 December where Zimbabwe's suspension from the group was upheld, President Mbeki went on to attack some western countries particularly Australia and Canada accusing them of "using economic power to force their way through."

The reason why President Mbeki chooses to go against the voice of reason continues to be a mystery. But certainly one other avenue that has not explored in an effort to establish Mbeki's motive where exactly he stands is that of -regional superpower.

It is no doubt that each and every one country wants to extend its power and influence over other nations. And Africa as a developing continent is undergoing that transformation where we are going to have superpowers and pawns. Just like US is on the America continent, Britain in Europe and probably China in Asia -we are moving towards that phase.

It is again no doubt that the only countries in Africa that have the capacity to emerge African superpowers are Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe, if the country was in its good shape. The battle for superpower started as long back as 1982. It is therefore necessary to interrogate the chance of each and every country's chances of becoming the superpower and the motive behind their actions

President Mbeki He always contradicts himself most of the times. His hypocrisy is even exposed by the fact the he said he believes in quite diplomacy he loudly supports ZANU PF, says Zimbabwe must solve their problems, must have internal solutions but he continues to give Zanu PF external support and accuses the West of interfering in Zimbabwe's internal activities. President Mbeki wants to conquer Africa. His African Renaissance is one of the many antics he employs to try and portray himself as the Africa godfather. He wants the African parliament in South Africa; he hosts Nepad and many other regional bloc organs. He has no guts whatsoever to question or challenge any other African leader. South Africa did not, until recently, intervened in the crisis in DRC.

Certainly, South Africa would not need a strong neighbor if its hegemony is to spread. Hence it has adopted a dual policy: destabilizing Zimbabwe politically, whilst maintaining economic ties. Its primary interest is to keep the internationally discredited Zanu Pf in power so that Zimbabwe remains weak.

Another point to note also is that Zimbabwe under the leadership of MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai would easily dominate the SADC region. It is almost certain that President Tsvangirai who once led the SADC region as Southern African Trade Unions Coordinating Committee (SATUCC) Secretary General will have support and respect from many countries especially Zambia, which share an almost similar experience with Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai's close ties with the Congress of South Africa Trade Union are also another shot that make President Mbeki uncomfortable.

President Olesugun Obasanjo
A former general in the army is somehow a man who believes in frank talk. As a former military man President Obasanjo has frank and precision as his virtues.

His short-term alliance with South Africa came to an end at Chogm. He broke the ranks on the question of principle. It was clear from the onset that the relationship between South Africa and Nigeria on Zimbabwe would not last. Firstly because the two countries have different stakes in the whole saga. South Africa is making an economic fortune from the Zimbabwean crisis while Nigeria seems not to be benefiting anything. Secondly, Nigeria also has interests of becoming an African superpower and therefore it is common sense that at some point the two would clash since they are vying for the same food. Thirdly, the motives for intervening seem to be different. Obasanjo seem genuine in his desire to solve the crisis. This is evidenced by his visits to both Tsvangirai and Mugabe. And Mbeki's motive is that of keeping his political power. Nigeria is gaining ground, the defeat of the little known Commonwealth secretary general aspirant Kadigmar is a sign that Nigeria is heading for a victory.

President Bakili Muluzi
It seems he is the only and totally honest broker. So far he sees the crisis in Zimbabwe with his two eyes. That is precisely the reason why after the visit with Mbeki and Obasanjo, he alone went a step further to try and invite the MDC leader M. Tsvangirai to Malawi to try and get the true picture.

His country has little if any stake in the whole saga. Malawi cannot have ambitions of becoming a super power because of obvious reasons. These are actually the countries, which can craft a solution genuinely to Zimbabwe.

Conclusion
Continuing looking up to Mbeki is mere time wasting. Mbeki proved that he is actually worse than Mugabe when it comes to his power. Zimbabweans should not waste their time, bows and arrows shooting at Mbeki. The real enemy is known in any case Mbeki is only guilty of a crime as an accomplice. Mugabe is the real perpetrator. A perpetrator is one whose conducts, the circumstances in which it takes places and the culpability with which it is carried out are such that he satisfies all the requirements for liability. Mbeki an accomplice engages in conduct whereby he furthers the commission of the crime by someone else (Mugabe).

Fidas Muchemwa
Secretary General of the Southern African Students Union (SASU)
(+263 91 907 235)
remofidas@yahoo.com

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