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Troika
for a dignified exit
Phil
Matibe
August 21, 2007
http://www.zimdaily.com/news/117/ARTICLE/2022/2007-08-21.html
The just ended Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) summit in Lusaka, Zambia, discards
and renders ineffective the "African renaissance" concept
of peer review. The collective reluctance and inability by SADC
heads of states to reign in an intransigent, wayward neighbour,
ushers in a window of opportunity for an international troika of
eminent persons to intervene.
May I humbly prevail
upon all progressive, rational Zimbabweans to join me in persuading
a troika of distinguished international statesmen to travel to Harare
and honourably offer Robert Mugabe a dignified exit.
David Owen - British
Foreign Secretary (1977 to 1979), one of the architectures of the
Anglo/American plan for what was then Rhodesia which formed the
basis for the Lancaster House Agreement. In September 1977, Dr Owen
presented the Command Paper: 6919 Rhodesia: Proposals for a Settlement
- "end of Ian Smith's government and six- month transition
period leading to general election on a basis of one man one vote.
Independent Zimbabwe by 1978, and establishment of interim government
to be supervised by Britain with UN presence, including a UN Force;
an independence constitution providing for a democratically elected
government, the abolition of discrimination, protection of individual
human rights and the independence of the judiciary. A development
fund to revive the economy is also to be established."
Kofi Annan - United Nations
Secretary General ( 1997 to 2007), opening the 1999 General Assembly,
he spoke in favor of "humanitarian intervention," stating
explicitly that national sovereignty could no longer shield governments
that massively violate human rights of their citizens. In his farewell
speech he outlined three major problems of "an unjust world
economy, world disorder, and widespread contempt for human rights
and the rule of law", which he believes "have not resolved,
but sharpened" during his time as Secretary-General.
Colin Powell - National
Security Advisor (1987-1989) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff (1989-1993) and United States Secretary of State (2001-05),
"a better future is within reach if African governments and
societies leverage the rewards of political and economic freedom
by putting a priority on good governance; if African militaries
understand their subordinate role under civilians in a democratic
society; if governments do not oppose peaceful opposition with force
but rather choose engagement with ideas; if journalists who exercise
the right to free expression are not sent on express journeys to
jail; if big men do not define foreign investment as depositing
stolen billions in foreign banks; if the model for democratic participation
is one person one vote, and frequent elections to allow people to
change their minds every few years as to the manner in which they
wish to be governed".
Zimbabwe is tinkering
on the periphery of the league of failed states. In order to save
our country from total collapse and avert irretrievable civil strife,
let us petition the above mentioned statesman for their urgent commitment
and auspicious intervention.
pmatibe@gmail.com
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