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Mr. President . . . Time to rescue Zimbabweans from Mr. Mugabe
Olawale Fapohunda, The Vanguard (Nigeria)
April 13, 2007

http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/features/law/law913042007.html

The appalling beating inflicted recently on the Zimbabwean leader of the opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, and other members of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the continuous downward spiralling of the socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe places a responsibility on President Olusegun Obasanjo to intervene decisively in the situation in Zimbabwe. Mr. Mugabe would want the rest of Africa to believe that the situation in his country is a result of his refusal to allow neo-colonialist ambitions. Mr. Mugabe undoubtedly deserves much credit for the heroic liberation struggle in that country. However, if the truth is to be told the situation in Zimbabwe today is the effect of Mr. Mugabe-s misrule and high-handedness. Mr. Mugabe has pursued a catastrophic policy of self and regime preservation.

The effect on ordinary Zimbabweans has been dreadful. Some three million of them (out of a population of thirteen million} have fled the poverty and chaos of home, many to neighbouring South Africa. Once the bread-basket of Southern Africa and one of the continent-s wealthiest countries, Zimbabwe is now a basket-case and suffers a severe shortage of food. It is also the world-s fastest - shrinking peacetime economy, with unemployment now standing at 80%. Its inflation rate is the world-s highest: currently 1,730%. Regretfully, till date Zimbabwe-s Southern African neighbours including South Africa have refused to take a firm stance in support of the suffering people of Zimbabwe insisting on the continuation of its failed strategy of non-interference and quiet diplomacy.

This has only in many ways served to strengthen Mr. Mugabe. If the response of Southern Africa has been disappointing, that of the African Union {AU} has evoked memories of the 'see no evil, hear no evil- OAU of old and made nonsense of its new commitment to good governance. Predictably, this has given a stronger voice to those in and out of the continent who believe that the aspirations of the AU as expressed through African heads of state do not readily include democracy and the defence of human rights. The situation in Zimbabwe casts an enormous shadow on the optimism and enthusiasm which greeted the adoption of NEPAD. Surely, the spirit and intent of NEPAD frowns at brutal suppression of the opposition, mass arrests and detention and state sponsored violence all which have became identification marks of Mr. Mugabe-s regime.

Nigeria must intervene now. Mr. Mugabe must be told politely and firmly that it is time to go. Nigeria should use its enormous influence within the AU and take the lead in making it clear how Mr. Mugabe-s misrule is giving the African continent a bad name. Condemnation of what is happening in Zimbabwe by President Obasanjo would go a long way in restoring faith in the AU peer review mechanism which has of late come desperately close to being a snare and a delusion. Most importantly it would provide a glimmer of support for the millions of Zimbabweans in their struggle to survive Mr. Mugabe-s brutal regime.

*Olawale Fapohunda, Managing Partner, Legal Resource Consortium

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