Back to Index

Mugabe had it wrong
Kondwani Kamiyala
May 10, 2006

http://www.nationmalawi.com/articles.asp?articleID=16651

This article was first published in The Nation newspaper in Malawi

So, the man who is a thorn in the flesh of the West came, inaugurated a road and went. This anti-imperialist icon, it would appear, left Malawi with nothing but the bashing and trashing of Western ideas. Such attacks are always part of his baggage wherever he goes.

For all that, the most sensible thing he told Malawians is that Malawi and Zimbabwe are one, to the point of intermarriage. But that is all.

As usual, Mugabe had no kind words for the West. He urged Malawians, as if they were not so conscious of their history, to shake off the fetters of colonialism. This call was normally greeted with cheers, as is the case whenever immortal African political leaders play the wise elephant. There is always some lizard to cheer.

But Comrade Robert Mugabe had it wrong. We had our independence long time ago and today to claim to be fighting against colonialism is, to say the least, bizarre. Much as we reckon some of the economic theories of the West widens the gap between the rich and the poor, we cannot say we can do without the West. They cushion our budget. They are vital in implementation of our development goals in one way or the other.

What was the point in Mugabe telling the rest of us his exploits against one Ian Smith, who has no bearing whatever on the Malawian on the streets’ life? Why did he not tell us that much as we regard him as a great son of the African soil to name an important road on his name, we would end up in jail if we were to wave at him, for an open palm is the political symbol of his nemesis Morgan Tsvangirai?

While telling Malawians that he never dreams of living in Europe, he should also have let us know that since he came to power in 1980, he amended that country’s constitution several to quell opposition and make Zimbabwe a de facto single party state. Mugabe did not tell Malawians of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) which restricts public gatherings of any more than five persons without police clearance, prohibits street demonstrations and all unsanctioned meetings, except church services. That is not to talk of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act which enables the president to legislate or make new laws by decree. These are just a few of the laws in Zimbabwe that makes freedom a dream for the Zimbabwe people.

In Malawi, our biggest challenge is neither Tony Blair nor George Bush. Sir Roy Welensky is out of the question. Today we must face poverty. Today we must check corruption. Today our unemployment figures are soaring high. Our kwacha is buying less and less goods by the day. Malawians are now engaged in a soul-search why our mothers, sisters and daughters are facing abuse. Malawians are today asking themselves if this is really the democracy they sought in 1993.

We are asking ourselves why abuse against the economic, political and religious rights of man continues to increase as some try to gain absolute powers.

And Mugabe says to further increase the unity between Malawians and Zimbabweans, he extends an invitation to the youth of the ruling DPP to learn from his ZANU-PF youths. Needless to say here that the ZANU-PF Youth Brigade is notorious for silencing political opponents by the most violent of means. This is an archaic kind of politics once imported from Ghana by Dr Kamuzu Banda in 1965 when he set up the Malawi Young Pioneers.

The youth, in the present democratic dispensation should not be used as torn boots to kick out political opponents of those who still see colonial ghosts everywhere. The driving of our youth into the destitution of unemployment makes them all the more vulnerable to political abuse. Think of all the bus touts or street vendor who would be easily lured to become the ears and eyes of the political powers that be.

We can’t talk of the resemblance between the treason trial Tsvangirai faced when state owned media exposed a video tape recorded by one Ari Ben-Menashe showing Tsvangirai discussing with operatives in Montreal, Canada, how they would assassinate Mugabe. That case bears resemblance to what is happening in Malawi now.

For a long time, Malawi politics has always followed events in Zambia. But now, it must be noted, our eyes must be fixed on Zimbabwe.

*Kondwani Kamiyala is a graphic designer and a creative writer.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP