“Time to call a spade a spade”
December 9th, 2008
This newsletter written by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (South Africa), was published on the 5th of December.
Zimbabwe – It is time to call a spade a spade
My dear friends and fellow South Africans,
Surveying the debris of the final act of the disintegration of our once great neighbour Zimbabwe into the category of a “failed state”, I have reflected on how we came to such a desperate situation on our borders and how SADC’s ineffectiveness to intervene has been left so miserably exposed.
I venture to suggest that there was a clue in KwaZulu Natal last weekend which I will return to in a moment.
For too long, we have blindly chanted the mantra “African solutions to Africa’s problems” as we have stood by and witnessed widespread genocide, ethnic cleansing, pillaging and looting, corruption and nepotism and voter gerrymandering on a grand scale across our continent over the last two decades.
Yet one sometimes feels that Africa is somehow allowed an exemption – a compensated pass if you will – for failing to meet the same standards as everyone else.
Considering that the phrase “African solutions to Africa’s problems” has become so clichéd (and yes, my party and I have used it, too), do any of us bother to question what we actually mean by it?
Well, it is elementary that Africans should run their own affairs rather than allow their former colonial masters to do so. It follows from this that institutions are established, such as the regional SADC, the continental AU with its Peer Review Mechanism, to be the architecture of governance, but they, in themselves, are not solutions – as SADC has just so ignobly demonstrated.
And what exactly would an African solution to the Zimbabwean crisis be?
There is either a solution or there is not! There is, in my book, no such thing as a “made in Africa” solution. Zimbabwe either holds ‘free and fair elections’ like those recently held in America, or it does not.
Zimbabwe either adheres to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (to which it is a signatory) or it does not. It happens to do neither and no amount of pontificating about “African solutions” can disguise that fact. Her people are starving, the hyperinflation is running sky high, there is a humanitarian disaster of biblical proportions emerging with the cholera outbreak and the country is, for all intents and purposes, not being governed.
It is time to call a spade a spade.
Why, for instance, when Yugoslavia disintegrated in the early 1990s, did we not hear any voices calling for “Balkan solutions for Balkan problems”? No one said “ah let the people of Kosovo sort it out” or it is “an internal matter for the people of Bosnia”. Yes, it sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? In the end, Bill Clinton reluctantly intervened with his European NATO allies.
I believe we have fallen prey to the notion of relative standards: we are expected to hold ‘free and fair elections’ like everyone else, but there is an unspoken bargain that we will be given a bit of leeway. A “bit” of voter fraud or a “few” acts of intimidation – even murder – will be overlooked as long as the election is held and the result expresses the will of the majority.
As an African, who shares the joy of millions of people across the globe at the election of an African American as the leader of the free world, I believe it is time to say that we – as Africans – should be expected to adhere to the same standards as everyone else.
Going back to the question of how Zimbabwe could unravel so fast, I ventured earlier that there was a clue in KwaZulu Natal last weekend. The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) announced that they would “join” the ANC’s election campaign in the province in the 2009 election. They also recently called for a “political” strike in support of ANC President Jacob Zuma.
It is, of course, the right of unions to be ideologically aligned, but they have no business, at all, of becoming actively involved in the democratic process.
This is why the IFP this week called on the Independent Electoral Commission to state unequivocally that political office bearers, activists and trade unions be barred from acting as presiding officers or as electoral staff.
The key word in the IEC’s name is “independent”. By allowing a special interest group (since that is what unions are) to preside over the democratic process undermines the very foundations of free and fair elections as a vehicle for unhindered public participation.
We have seen what has routinely happened during Zimbabwean elections.
First, independent observers from the West (who would have been able to spot electoral fraud and irregularities) were barred from the country. Then came the infamous war veterans who either directly intimidated voters into supporting the ruling Zanu-PF or, more discreetly, “assisted” rural and sometimes illiterate voters with their ballot papers.
Is this really what we mean by African solutions to Africans problems?
Sincerely,
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP
December 9th, 2008 14:28
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete comes across as a very naive man. The AU chairman has rejected tougher action against the Mugabe regime. Has he got some interest in Zimbabwe as well, like a goldmine or something? He suggests more dialogue. Well somebody inform him, there is no dialogue between the parties, and the parties could never work together. A child could tell you that. Was he born yesterday?
He suggests force would be of no use. Well, a bit of force is usually necessary to get rid of vermin. Once the vermin is erradicated, the rest is then easily treatable with massive food and water aid from the free world.
December 9th, 2008 17:14
So heart warming to read and see on TV that the African Leaders in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and Botswana as well as Bishop Tutu are speaking out about the situation in Zimbabwe. It now is facing the worst ever should it be allowed to carry on in this manner with Cholera spreading, killing many innocent lives. In Uganda it went on for a long time until the day came when enough was enough and action against a sick regime took place and brought the country back to normality.I believe this time must come now for Zimbabweans to stop suffering under a useless dictator holding onto power, and achieving nothing to improve the lives of the people.With the festive season upon us, how can one sit and ignore this ? You simply have to have a heart of steel to be able to do that.
December 9th, 2008 17:19
So now we have three! Iain Khama from Botswana, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi from South Africa and Raila Odinga from Kenya. All of them have voiced the common sense that Zim and Africa need – Mugabe must be forced out and not protected.
It is like getting blood from a stone as far as the wider AU and SADC are concerned.
Do these organisations not see the thousands of good people of Zim on the verge of terror and pestillence?
The three should already be thirty three.
A plea to the AU and SADC:-
SEE WHAT THE WORLD SEES AND DO SOMETHING!
Or for ever be damned!
Please don’t wait any longer, people are dying. Is it the African solution to just stand by and see them die?
December 9th, 2008 20:09
My heartist congratulations to Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi! Well done, my fellow African! At last the men are standing up to speak the truth, while the jackals still cower in the shadows.
Mugabe has split Africa in two. On one side we have the criminal Mafia, who steal from and plunder their people as he does. On the other side are those who believe in righteousness and a Holy God and the rule of justice and law. The Good Book says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” The world is watching. Choose carefully, you leaders of Africa!
December 9th, 2008 22:23
Is Buthelezi’s opinion useful, or do his opinions alienate other African leaders? This sounds like self-justification of his whole history of antagonism towards the ANC wrapped up on concern for Zimbabwe.
December 10th, 2008 02:09
Now here’s a suggestion worth considering….
Time for SA to invade and occupy Zimbabwe
http://www.thoughtleader.co.za
by Rod MacKenzie
I am one of the most decisive people that I know. “Come on Chook, let’s go
live in China,” I brightly announced one day to my wife in England after
being “let go” from my second job (I was a terrible salesman by England’s
cut-throat standards). “Okay,” she said, “hmmm . sounds interesting”.
So, amid the moans and pleas of the extended family we made that wonderful
decision four years ago.
I am also one of the most reckless, impulsive people that I know. I open my
mouth when I shouldn’t, and while I know the TL editors like my writing and
are prepared to publish some inflammatory material, I have been politely
asked on several occasions to tone it down. Fair enough, their suggestions
were wisdom in hindsight.
But the more I think about the Zimbabwe issue the only way forward is for
the SA army to occupy Zimbabwe, to remove mad Bob from office permanently
and create an interim government that will restore peace and order and
re-boot the economy.
I cannot think of a better and more responsible action for the SA government
to take right now. And I mean right now. Living in China, I am sick to death
of listening to the journalists and non-ANC politicians – from SA and
internationally – bleat and moo about Zimbabwe and nothing, absolutely
nothing, ever gets done. Pity there was not a reservoir or two of oil or
plutonium in Zimbabwe. The US flag would have been waving above Harare a
long time ago.
The move would boost international confidence in the Southern African
region. The West would praise President Kgalema Motlanthe, and Zuma Messiah,
of course, would try and hop on the bandwagon to ensure he gets his share of
the glory. There would be a surge of investor confidence in SA.
The first item on a long list to sort out would be the cholera outbreak.
That disease can easily go over Zimbabwe’s borders into neighbouring
countries. That is one reason why other countries in the region should have
no real reason to gripe about SA’s military move.
And then (and I’m a John Lennon fan) just imagine all the people receiving
proper medical treatment, the stimulus to the region’s economy, the return
of employment as the international investors in a year or so’s time (perhaps
earlier) have the confidence to invest in Zim-SA enterprises once they see
law and order being restored.
Just imagine Zimbabweans in exile in SA happily going back across the
borders, thus solving the violent xenophobic problems SA townships are
facing.
Epidemics like cholera alone, never mind the violence wrought by xenophobic
factions, are reasons alone to call off SA hosting the world football cup in
2010, or will ensure a crummy turnout. They are therefore reasons alone –
never mind the others – for the SA army to invade and occupy because
Zimbabwe is now a threat to the entire region at a time when the globe is in
an economic tumult. By occupying Zimbabwe, SA would actually be making a
contribution to the restoration of the world’s economy.
We just don’t have leaders with the balls to do so. We need a Winston
Churchill or a Bill Clinton . oh dream on Rod .
I just don’t think Motlanthe has the courage or the real power to make such
a significant, decisive move. He is clearly the soft filling in the
sandwich, a flavour of the month between the rock-hard, reified dogmas of
Mbeki and Zuma (hopefully not the latter, by some Cope-DA coalition
miracle).
Our current leaders simply don’t know how to make crucial, incisive
decisions. All we get is the rant and rave of Zuma, and his inability to say
anything intelligent and relevant. He just hides behind the group-talk or
corporate jargon of the ANC. He refuses to debate with Helen Zille in public
because, as we all know, he has not got the acumen or education to handle
that level of debate. Zille’s surgical intellect and her way with words
would have him chopped up and served to the dogs of ignorance and empty
“bring me my machine gun” rhetoric in no time at all. Zuma knows that.
It would be a peaceful invasion, one which most Zimbabweans would welcome.
The Zim army would only put up a token resistance. Just imagine Mugabe being
led handcuffed from his mansion in Harare to prison while the video is
broadcast to the world which watches SA’s move breathlessly and admiringly.
Mad Bob can then stand trial for crimes against humanity.
Think about it. If South Africa does not take this radical, responsible
step, what is to become of South Africa and the rest of the region? Is there
really any other responsible choice left? The impoverished Zimbabwean people
alone are owed this.
December 10th, 2008 04:54
We are already watching Africa’s solution to Africa’s problem of Zimbabwe.
Most African leaders have made it clear that they find it acceptable for African countries to practise ‘solutions’ quite unacceptable to Western thought – they are, as so often before, waiting for the mayhem to play itself out, and will accept whoever is in power at the end of it.
Thank God for the few bold enough, like the Prince, to speak out truth instead.
December 11th, 2008 09:07
African solutions.. yes. See The Elders Report on Zimbabwe. Those who keep up the tired old mantra about Economic Sanctions being the cause of Zimbabwe’s collapse are absolutely deluded. This is one of those ‘Big Lies’ equivalent to the ones peddled by the Nazis. It is something which needs to be clearly spelt out.
Who does one respect more, Robert Mugabe, or Nelson Mandela, who put his name to this Report?
Below is an excerpt from page 6 ‘Economic Situation’
Report on Visit to Southern Africa – November 2008, The Elders’ Zimbabwe Initiative
Economic situation
“I think it’s the established policy of the Mugabe government that there’s no crisis
in Zimbabwe and to blame imaginary sanctions. There are no economic
sanctions against Zimbabwe.†(Jimmy Carter)
In the 1980s Zimbabwe had an annual average GDP growth rate of 4.3%, an
employment growth rate of 1.9%, inflation of around 12% and impressive levels of
savings and economic investment. In the past decade, GDP and employment growth
rates have gone backwards (-5.7% and -7.5% respectively), the official inflation rate is
over 230 million per cent (although the real figure is widely believed to be many times
more than that), the country is unable to service its debts and all economic sectors have
experienced serious declines.
In effect, there is no economy to speak of in Zimbabwe. The country’s economic decline
and financial crisis is the result of gross and sustained policy failure, mismanagement
and corruption. The government’s persistent claims that the economic collapse is due to
sanctions are not true. Some Western governments (Australia, Canada, European Union
member states, New Zealand, Norway and the United States) have put in place targeted
sanctions such as a visa ban and asset freeze on certain individuals from or closely linked to ZANU PF, banned sales or export of arms to Zimbabwe and suspended development assistance programmes that would give direct support to the government.
Nor is Zimbabwe subject to ‘sanctions’ from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs)
such as the IMF, the World Bank and the African Development Bank. Rather, Zimbabwe
is unable to access finance from these institutions because the government has
defaulted on its loans. National debt is estimated to be around US$5bn, of which
approximately US$2bn is owed to the IFIs.
Responsibility for the collapse of the economy lies with the government. It is their
policies that have driven hyperinflation, the devaluation of the currency, huge price
distortions and disincentives to invest. Restrictive regulations and hyperinflation have led
to cash shortages which the government has tried to address by setting daily limits on
withdrawals at banks of Z$500,000 per day, an amount that barely covers the cost of a
loaf of bread. Payment for goods and services is increasingly being made with US
dollars, South African Rand and fuel coupons, but these remain out of reach for most
Zimbabweans.
http://theelders-news.blogspot.com/search/label/Zimbabwe
December 13th, 2008 06:06
Vive Mugabe Vive Mugabe Vive Mugabe,
Keep it up.You’re the Man.
I Love You