tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119039270406410366.post1269329357386618189..comments2021-10-16T00:12:34.750+03:00Comments on Leadership - Justice - Progress: The Mugabe-AU Chair ParadoxUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119039270406410366.post-18356374642449983292015-02-03T23:20:25.944+03:002015-02-03T23:20:25.944+03:00David,
I agree with you that Mugabe’s election is...David, <br />I agree with you that Mugabe’s election is an interesting political statement, but we should not view this as simply a means of spiting the West. One should not forget Mugabe’s role in his country’s liberation struggle, including the struggle against apartheid in SA, as well as his defense of Africa’s dignity in general. This explains why Thabo Mbeki never criticized him, despite Western pressure — and many of us approved Mbeki’s stand.<br />The truth is that, from the time of Zimbabwe’s liberation war, and the victory in 1979, and onwards throughout the 1980s, Mugabe was a hero to all of us. We admired him for achieving reconciliation between those who had fought on opposite or rival sides during the struggle, and for not throwing the white population out but instead, ensuring their security. You’re too young to know, but if you knew the arrogance and racism of these White Rhodesians, you’d still be admiring Mugabe for his pragmatic approach — as we still do, despite the fact that he is not aging as graciously as we may have hoped, and has become somewhat… difficult. But even this is understandable: after trying “softer” ways of making those sorely needed land reforms, with little success, he decided to act more forcefully, and in so doing, made a number of wrong moves, especially as regards some of his white population, thereby incurring those terrible sanctions. <br />These sanctions were unjustified, disproportionate as well as unhelpful, and they ended up being perceived as merely vengeful, a kick in the nose by the nasty West, as punishment for Mugabe refusing to be their obedient servant. We tend not to realize that the powerful hate one who defies them much more than one who tries to hurt their economic and other material interests – since their power preclude any real hurt in that area. Remember that famous pyramid of needs: when one has all the wealth he wants, then he wants power, and when he has that, then he wants domination, then absolute, unchallenged domination, to the point where he alone speaks, and when he has spoken, no one else should utter another word. <br />This is what Mugabe refused to accept. Unfortunately, he has gradually turned into something of an autocrat – but not a despot, as you write. He still has his country’s best interests at heart, but the stubbornness with which he has conducted his battle for sovereignty has so irked the masters of the world that they have decided to make life quite miserable for his country. He has failed to appreciate the obvious fact that no poor African country can afford the kind of stand he has taken. I’m sure you’ve listened to his UNGA speeches, and know what I mean. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCbiK_L0_mY ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftHnnMnBlzA). <br />In fact, Mugabe is lucky the US/UK regime-changers did not invade his country as a “humanitarian measure” - or, rather, his country’s resources are not sufficiently attractive. But in fact, these sanctions have been a veritable act of war, not just oppression, and in this context, the continent is indeed making a statement, as you rightly note. a statement both against these criminal sanctions and about their respect for this leader’s role in Africa’s post-colonial history.<br />But whatever his faults, we still respect him, for his fearless, uncompromising stand, and for the wonderful speeches in which he expressed these strong views on behalf of Africa’s sovereignty. One of his most famous speeches was delivered at the opening ceremony of the 8th Non-Aligned Summit, which he hosted in Harare, in September 1986. I still remember this speech, because I had the honour of interpreting it. It was very elegant and incisive, and everyone was quite transported… <br />These are some of the reasons why we old hands cannot agree that Mugabe was elected simply to spite the West: we still consider him a great African leader, an Elder Statesman, while regretting that he has not aged more graciously. He has not lost our respect.<br />RMMromarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13995282610437793225noreply@blogger.com