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The Zimbabwe crisis
Maxwell Madzikanga
April 23, 2008

I read about the situation in and saw images of some of the consequences of what is happening in Zimbabwe in the 23rd April edition of the Zimbabwean (Weekly Newspaper) and felt that despite my circumstances, l cannot continue to betray my country by muting my voice on the need to call for total respect of human rights and human dignity in Zimbabwe. The reports and pictures show the extent of the shocking, graphic and barbaric degradation of our humanity as peace loving, progressive and civilised Zimbabweans. I feel this enjoins me to visit a number of historical and current issues relating the situation in Zimbabwe.

It is apparent that the United Nations needs to immediately and comprehensively intervene in Zimbabwe rather than continue holding meetings as if everything is okay. It does not help for the UN and world leaders to sit around gold plated tables and diamond coated chairs, sipping wine and salivating for and savouring fat cheques of per diem allowances while Zimbabwe is up in smoke burning the dried remnants of humanity. Hiding behind diplomatic nuances does not help either; the situation in Zimbabwe is a crisis of unimaginable proportions.

The position and path taken by President Thabo Mbeki regarding resolution of the Zimbabwe crisis is very disheartening and the call by those who really want to see an immediate resolution that he steps down as mediator in Zimbabwean crisis has valid currency. President Mbeki has let Zimbabweans down considerably over the last 2 years of "quiet diplomacy" mediation. I am however quite encouraged by the mature, measured and courageous albeit unpopular comments made by the African National Congress President, Jacob Zuma. These are words for progress and the future not just for South Africa, but for Zimbabwe, SADC and Africa as a whole.

Zimbabwe does not and will never belong to Morgan Tsvangirai. Robert Mugabe will never own Zimbabwe-s title deeds. That sacrosanct country belongs to our forefathers, us and future generations. Our forefathers had a deep and informed respect for comprehensive human rights that are reflected in our culture, traditions and customs. Our forefathers worshipped the sacrosanctity of human life and dignity in every aspect of our society. Our forefathers were noble people who for generations understood that leadership is not a lifetime calling but a duty and responsibility that had to be cherished, developed and perfected for passing on to subsequent generations like the baton stick in the never-ending relay race that the life of our society is. So why are our current leaders refusing to acknowledge this essential pillar of and play their part in upholding our age-old democracy in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe belongs to those many fine and courageous daughters and sons of Zimbabwe who in their prime paid the ultimate sacrificial price in the inaugural Chinhoyi battle, in Tanzania, Nyadzonya, Chimoio and Tembwe, and across the breadth of Zimbabwe during the war for liberation, majority rule and human rights. Zimbabwe belongs to all of us Zimbabweans. It is our duty to uphold those values about life and dignity and about responsible leadership for our generation and more importantly the generations to come. None of us owns these values, but we are custodians and conduits for the evolution of the history of pour people from the last to the next generation.

It goes without saying that there is no reasonable justification for inflicting the amount of fear, pain, injury and scarring innocent women, men, grandmothers, grandfathers, girls and boys that has been witnessed in Chiwundura, Musana, Murehwa or Zvimba communal areas simply because they voted for MDC or ZANU PF. Every Zimbabwean who has attained the age of suffrage has the constitutional right and freedom to select representatives and leaders of their preference without fear of any form of reprisal before, during and after the election process. It is their inalienable right as dignified human beings. Zimbabwe belongs to the many invisible millions who should exercise their right to vote freely and to live dignified lives; our leaders do not unfortunately perceive this beyond political rhetoric.

It is indisputable that the leadership in SADC in general has been a great disappointment on the Zimbabwe issues. Despite the isolated rational utterances very little has come by way of tangible and visible action making all the regional initiatives ineffective. There is a clear need for more proactiveness, openness, genuineness and courage from SADC otherwise Zimbabwe will continue to bleed socially and economically bleeding not because Gordon Brown is tightening his grip on Zimbabwe. Harare is burning because we have turned against each other, torched our beautiful home, Zimbabwe, maimed innocent villagers and killed for no justifiable cause. We have turned Zimbabwe into a land for mourning, great fear and uncertainty where a horrible, painful, unnecessary and undignified death has become an ever-attendant reality.

Torture in all its variegated forms is an abomination to human existence; whether perpetrated by the military, war veterans, ZANU PF or MDC. A day of reckoning will come when all human rights violators will be called to account. Running to the east or flying to the west will not help and going down into abyss will not save perpetrators from inevitable justice. This resonates very well with Zimbabwe culture, traditions, customs and beliefs where no crime can ever be concealed forever, the truth will always out and justice will be served.

Zimbabweans are intricately bound by blood, tradition, fundamental ethos, totem, region, history and race and to decimate such a rich and strong heritage is an unforgivable crime. To try and obliterate such social capital is a heinous crime; is anti-Zimbabwe. Our children should be able to walk in the park, admire and be proud of the beauty of our land. Every citizen should be able to criss-cross the breadth and explore the depth of our beautiful country without fearing the cruelty, danger and harm now associated with the darkness and unpredictable visits of night Zimbabwe-s youth should be able to hold hands in the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood and enjoy their blossoming lives and the bright prospects for the future.

Zimbabwe-s schools need to function once more and achieve the high standards and excellent reputation that they are capable of attaining and so richly deserve. The health system needs to be rejuvenated in order to deliver effective, equitable and sustainable services for all citizens in urban and rural areas. The clergy and worshipers of all persuasions should be able to worship in the genuine peace, serenity and security of our free country. The army, the Police and other security agencies should execute their roles and functions professionally and impartially and exercise professional caution on politically-motivated issues. One should be able to stand under and salute the Zimbabwe flag in the full knowledge and confidence that it represents the sovereignty of the country and that all our political leaders respect and value this sovereignty and conduct their duties with integrity. Our economy should be resuscitated so that development, [progress and prosperity start flowing through its arteries and veins again. Our rivers should reflow with waters bumbling with freedom and life. That to me is what our people are asking for from their political leaders not the violence and abuse of human rights that has resulted from the historic elections in March.

I cannot underscore the importance and significance of breathing life back into all spheres of Zimbabwean society, a society l love and am attached to so deeply. My father was tortured for a long period during the liberation struggle and I wonder what as he lies in his grave, cold and mummified, he makes of the Zimbabwe of today. I guess one question he would ask is whether it was worthwhile for him to suffer for the liberation the country? Josiah Magama Tongogara, the late veteran freedom fighter famously implored with passion and conviction the liberation military wings to go back home and rebuild Zimbabwe when the war was won; to go home and never throw stones at each other. Whatever happened to the liberation slogan 'we are our own liberators- that we grew up chanting from an early age? Do our leaders now want us to be liberated from ourselves? We must always cherish our liberation from oppression, tyranny, abuse of human rights and undemocratic rule by ensuring these tenets of bad governance do not visit us whether by the craft of our own hands or those outside our society.

I write with passion like this because the situation in Zimbabwe tortures me and l just cannot remain silent. I can-t be silenced either. Our leadership has made glaring mistakes and continue to talk, act and live as if they own our people, as if only they can and will determine our people-s destiny. They continue to transact hatred and hate speech like french-fries; to them it-s business as usual as they continue to escalate the very fuel of suffering for our people. To them it-s time for that extra grandstanding whether from the safety of exile or government. We need a new Zimbabwe now, a Zimbabwe that upholds basic and fundamental human rights, a Zimbabwe that reflects on its past and present experiences with wise counsel, a Zimbabwe that breathes life into the future, a Zimbabwe that values the life and dignity of the poor, impoverished and marginalised members of its society. Zimbabwe needs and deserves a visionary leadership that operationalises its national stewardship role; a leadership that can swallow its pride and say, "Morgan, you are my brother, I know we have fought for supremacy in the past, our people are bleeding for peace and prosperity, for their sake let us sit together at the table of brotherhood and plan for the future of our beloved country." A leadership that can swallow its pride, hurt and hatred and say "Robert, you are my brother, I know we have fought viciously and bitterly for dominance and caused suffering to our people because we neglected our responsibilities as leader, let us sit down as brothers, put our differences in the past and create a legacy for future generations; a legacy for them to cherish and be proud of, a legacy that will make our country a great nation again." Zimbabwe deserves a leadership that can travel back into itself with humility, courage, honesty and wisdom accepts the present and embraces the future with responsibility; a leadership that is God fearing, peace loving and identifies with the suffering, the wounded and the dying with compassion and a sense of responsibility for ending all these vagaries. Are our leaders suggesting that these values are beyond them?

We all love our beautiful country, Zimbabwe, let us all play our part in accepting the mistakes that we have all made directly and indirectly and start rebuilding the ruins. We must negotiate with sincerity, persuade honestly and truthfully, advocate with conviction, pray humbly, live our daily lives with integrity and honour and treat our sisters and brothers with fairness and compassion. Unless we introspect, there will be a Zimbabwe that we will neither be proud to talk about nor identify with. Let us remember with our every breath that it-s not about Thabo Mbeki declaring that Zimbabwe is crisis-free or Levy Mwanawasa, Kofi Annan and Gordon Brown declaring that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe; it-s about Zimbabweans within and among themselves with the support of the international community standing up and saying the current Zimbabwe is not what we Zimbabweans want or yearn for, that we as Zimbabweans yearn for a genuinely free, peaceful, secure and prospering Zimbabwe where all citizens are respected and dignified.

It has been said many times now, but I would like to end by calling on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to execute the rest of its mandate granted by the people of Zimbabwe fully and with impartiality. It is not too late to avert total erosion of the trust given this august body by the people of Zimbabwe. One day, sooner or later, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will be dutifully called to collective and individual account for the great and not so great deeds it has done in light of the legitimate and sincere mandate from the electorate.

In conclusion let us not tire in seeking justice, freedom and prosperity for our country, in seeking to serve our country honestly, honourably, with commitment and integrity bearing in mind that Zimbabwe belongs to the dead, the living, you and me, but more importantly to the 'invisibles- among us and to posterity.

* Maxwell V Madzikanga, Senior HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Researcher, Human Rights Centre, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom

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