The news from Zimbabwe is depressing. The most recent crackdown, which began with the arrest and brutal beating of opposition supporters three weeks ago, has accelerated the country’s meltdown and completed its transition from democracy to dictatorship. In a matter of a few years, Zimbabwe has gone from an island of stability and prosperity in Southern Africa to a complete disaster. Inflation is astronomical, unemployment is the norm, services like healthcare are virtually gone, and refugees have begun streaming across the borders into neighboring South Africa. Zimbabwe is no longer a diplomatic crisis, it is a humanitarian crisis.
And the reaction of African leaders? Silence. Indifference. Indulgence.
I accept that many African leaders feel as if they owe Robert Mugabe a certain amount of gratitude for his leadership in the independence movement of the 1970s and 80s. I accept that one of the goals of leaders like Thabo Mbeki is to promote African self-sufficiency. I even accept that many Africans may share Mugabe’s criticism of the West and support his land reform program as legitimate economic policy.
However, a mature foreign policy must be informed by a clear-eyed view of the world. African leaders must wake up the realities in Zimbabwe. The problem is neither imperialist western governments nor sanctions. The problem is Mugabe’s arrogance and incompetence. By allowing Mugabe to claim ownership of the African struggle to justify brutal authoritarianism, they do a disservice to the memory of the freedom fighters of the 20th century.
Zimbabwe’s citizens are left looking to the Church for leadership. For their sake, I hope African leaders find similar courage very soon, and act to end Zimbabwe’s suffering.
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