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The last testament
Clyde B. Chakupeta
October 22, 2008

On Monday 15 September, Tsvangirai, Mutambara and Mugabe signed a deal for the formation of a government of national unity. Talks since then have been held to map the way forward, with a proposed government that spots Mugabe as president and Tsvangirai taking the post of Prime Minister, while Mutambara grabs the Deputy Prime Minister-s post. The proposed government is expected to pity the main rivals, Mugabe and Tsvangirai, in trying to solve the problems of Zimbabwe, yet the main players seem not to trust one another. That anticipates an ocean of mischief for Zimbabwe. It-s a pact for necessity-s sake, yet the majority of Zimbabweans have rejected anything to do with the old system, the status quo that sees Mugabe in any form of government in Zmbabwe. There are many violations of democratic norms under the proposed government of national unity; if there pact remains mute on the gross human rights abuses committed over the years.

People voted in March and the people-s wish was down played by muscled political men. The essence of elections has been losing meaning in Africa, with Zimbabwe and Kenya being the main culprits. Are elections still a necessary tool for democracy in Africa? With the approval of the African Union, the trend of peace deals heralds a manifestation of permitting dictatorship to reign. The people-s choice becomes frail and not pertinent on determining the formation of a government for the people and by the people? That is certainly a pathetic deviation of modern democracy. This is a very bad precedent. Zambia goes to the polls end of October 2008 and South Africa in 2009. One wonders what to expect if the incumbent gets defeated and uses myopic means to remain in power. I digress.

What glares us in the face is the peace deal brokered by Mbeki in Zimbabwe. Firstly, Mugabe is an undisputed man who has trampled over human rights for his own political perpetuation. He has crippled the economy, dwindled health and education systems. He has paralyzed the agriculture sector to satisfy the greed of war veterans. He has militarized the state, butchered civic and opposition political leaders. He has empowered himself and driven the country to collapse. He has lost regard for anyone else apart from himself. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Mugabe has been corrupted absolutely. We need to condemn this pernicious act of authoritarian self indulgence.

In the case of power, the tradition has been that a prolongation of hardened rule tends to result in the withering away of vision, the loss of inventive thinking and satisfaction with mediocrity. Normally, after ten years in authority, semi-autocratic or authoritarian regimes begin to lose their cutting edge. They drift from one absurd policy to another. The main actors fight any possible opposition as they find it difficult to sustain growth, productivity and political credibility. That has been visibly obtainable in Zimbabwe for the last ten years. Simply put, Mugabe is a well that has run dry.

For a workable political, economic and social reform in Zimbabwe, justice must be done. The quest for justice would lead to many skeletons crawling out of cupboards. This is where the problem lies. If we get inside Mugabe-s mind, one can understand the way he feels. There are personal and political perversities, some of which are of gruesome nature, that would, in a normal political tempo, never been tolerated. Many people have profited from the negation of the rule of law and many have abused positions, while others have caused pain and grief to innocent citizens. Simple justice expects all culprits and perpetrators of violence and economic abuse to face the rhythm of law. This is what scares all those who have been related to the known political and economic thuggery in Zimbabwe. Yet, admitting faults and seeking for pardon is the first step to reconciliation and healing.

This is an inescapable route. Opinionated criminals have to confess. That-s what Mugabe is afraid of now. His refusal to do so has profound moral implications. Apart from his already battered ego being punctured, he risks the rule of law seeking justice against all the crimes against humanity he sanctioned. I would suggest a public apology to Zimbabwe, even though humiliating. He owes this to history. It is an unavoidable path and that has to be done now. To wait for the equivalent of "Gacaca" in Rwanda or the Peace and Reconciliation Commission in South is Africa, would be too late for most of the lead violators are advanced in age.

I am not advocating for slaughtering perpetuators of evil actions, but an admission of wrong doing to facilitate the process of national healing and reconciliation to begin. To pretend as if all is fine is counter productive. History will repeat itself. At independence, Mugabe called for 'reconciliation- to the former Rhodesian government. This was applauded the world over as a gesture of a 'new beginning-. But fifteen years later, Mugabe has pursued the 'whites- in spite of the fact that they had and were contributing immensely to the development of the country. White farmers were accused of bankrolling the MDC and that was an unpardonable crime. Britain and America have been Mugabe-s scapegoats for the collapse of Zimbabwe. He fails to introspect and admit failure and ask for pardon.

Where is reconciliation and forgiveness, when in dark moments one is reminded of one-s evils? This was so because justice was never done. If we allow this to be the case, then reconciliation and national healing will never take place in Zimbabwe. The Gukurahundi victims grieve to this day, those who lost farms, property and family during the farm invasions and during Operation Murambatsvina are still wounded. Those who lost family and property during the successive elections demand that justice be done. Without admission, there is no reconciliation nor healing.

The Old Testament calls for 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth-. This simply means that strict compensation for the injury is due. Justice should precede reconciliation and forgiveness. The right to pardon rests with the people of Zimbabwe ' . . . royal right to pardon even in capital cases is a necessity for peace and democracy to prevail-. It rejects the notion of 'powerful men-s law-. A murderer, however rich or politically powerful he might be, cannot escape execution by paying money, not even using his political muscle to protect himself. Even if the victims of his actions are mere peasants, nobodies or slaves. Biblically, there are many crimes where God-s anger is so great that financial compensation and/or political influence is not enough to appease even the divine wrath.

Having said that, it would be a gross exaggeration to say the proposed government of national unity is not worth trying. I suppose it is necessary as a bridge between times of suffering and building of true democracy in Zimbabwe. I urge Tsvangirai to tap on the old man-s treasury of wisdom and experience. Trust needs to be generated in the three main players, yet this is what has stalled the appointment of the cabinet. There has been total distrust and wanting to grab all for one-s security. Apparently, what any curious academic would probe further is the interpretation of this unity government. I have had very little respect for some players in the proposed unity government, and unfortunately of late, I have distanced myself from the brand of up-coming politicians as I have with the old system. Whereas with hope and determination, our nation can once more flourish, if and only if the spirit of rebuilding Zimbabwe is genuine, beginning from the political constructions.

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