We need a mediator above reproach

When the agreement was finally signed by the three main parties in Zimbabwe, I felt a sense of a conclusion of something – something that said it might have been more than just a milestone. Unlike a lot of people, I do not yet feel secure enough to even call it “the beginning of the end”. The very most that I secretly dared hoped this agreement would deliver was the beginning of the end of Mbeki in his role as mediator in our crisis.

People whittle back their goals and ambitions and settle for less in the hope that they can make progress. For example, I hoped that the definitive win at the elections would translate into the government the people had chosen; instead, we have this thing we have. And it’s OK by me – for now – especially if it turns out to be a few steps forward from where we were before and if the violence abates. I have always known this was going to be a long, slow, painful journey.

Similarly with Thabo Mbeki’s role as mediator: my preferred wish was for him to have been replaced a while ago, by someone impartial and objective, someone who was trusted equally by both sides of the crisis.

Instead, Mbeki presided over the ‘success’ of a deal signed. This isn’t what I had imagined, but it is OK with me too. I figure that he can have his moment of glory, accept the congratulations of the leaders around him, and pull his tattered pride back in place. It’s a small concession and I can swallow this and my scepticism (to a small degree) provided it marks the end of his involvement and he moves on.

I do not have regular access to the Internet at the moment, so imagine my shock a day or so ago when I finally heard the news that Thabo Mbeki had been asked by his party to resign as President of South Africa, because a High Court Judge in South Africa suggested he had interfered in the corruption cases brought against his political rival Jacob Zuma.

Because I don’t have access to the internet and there are no newspapers where I am, I have no idea what the substance of this allegation is or if the media in South Africa have started to dig like little terriers to uncover the full story. I assume that if a High Court judge says there are indications of meddling, then there probably was meddling. And I assume if Mbeki is stepping aside with little more than a whimper, then maybe he figures the game is up.

I saved the BBC page with article on and returned to it today to read it offline. Yikes! The word “aaaaaaarghhhhh” echoed through my mind:

“The ANC secretary general said this was not punishment for Mr Mbeki, adding that the president would be given the chance to continue his role as mediator in Zimbabwe.”

If all this is true, then I am drawing a line now and saying that I am feeling not very OK with this at all. This would be one concession too far for me and my future posts would very likely be peppered with scorn and irritation.

Quiet apart from the fact that Thabo Mbeki’s mediation took too damn long, was too slow and resulted in precious little for years and years while people died (putting aside the more inflammatory criticisms for now), he now appears to be a man that the ANC feels can no longer be a key decision-maker in South Africa’s future.

Why, if he can’t be entrusted to oversee South African affairs, should he be entrusted with such a critical role in influencing Zimbabwean affairs?

If he really has meddled behind the scenes in politics to undermine the ANC party’s choice of their future leader, then why shouldn’t we assume that he might not engage in similar backroom manipulative tactics to impact on the Zimbabwean people’s choice of their leader? Who knows, maybe it was Mugabe himself who gave Mbeki a few key dirty tips on how to deal with pesky trade-unionists?

I was thinking about this whole democracy thing last night, and about the way half-truths, smears, allegations and suggestions can impact on leaders so quickly. This story being played out in South Africa at the moment strikes me as a far bigger deal than “that girl” and a certain very famous cigar ever was for America!

Our country is struggling to restore democracy and JUSTICE. One of our many challenges is that we are trying very hard to bring an end to political interference in affairs relating to the justice system. Can anyone honestly say that Mbeki is suitably qualified to help chart those sort of turbulent waters ahead of us?

I can imagine the conversation around the negotiating table:

“Bob”, Thabo might mildly say. “You really need to stop interfering with the justice system and stop all the partisan manipulation”.

“I know Thabo, I know”, Bob will probably reply, sneaking an all-knowing secret wink, wink in Thabo’s direction conveying that he understood and was on message.

Morgan, smelling a rat scuttling between the two men, may then splutter with outrage: “The two of you are a joke!”, he might roar.

The other two men will probably calmly look back and say, “Morgan, contain yourself. We are not jokes; we are African democrats”.

Mr.Democracy, a shadowy figure observing from the corner of the negotiating room on behalf of millions of hungry Zimbabweans, will then sigh deeply with grief, shake his head with despair, then turn and leave the room for good.

This entry was posted by Hope on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm. You can follow any comments on this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.