In response to my last blog, somebody going by the name DA Mal raised some very interesting and relevant points. He/she wrote: “… what, exactly, do democratic Zimbabweans expect South Africa to do? Thabo Mbeki is right about one thing – it’s your country, and in the end getting rid of your dictator must be your solution. Every thinking South African agrees that we are not doing enough to help you. But, if we were to offer genuine, unalloyed and uncompromised help, such as JZ (Jacob Zuma) might likely offer, then what would you want from us?”
Well, I’m sure Da Mal is not the only one who fails to see exactly what Mbeki, or the rest of SADC, including its ordinary citizens can do, and must do. My first point would be to say that if there really wasn’t anything anyone could do, then what would be the point of appointing a mediator in the first place? What did former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan do for the crisis in Kenya? I hasten to add, that as much as this problem is ours and this is our country, the effects of whatever goes on here may also be felt regionally. Moreover, I believe that a call for help is not a sign of weakness, but of courage. Zimbabweans live under the iron fist of a practically untouchable dictator who moves around in the company of a kilometer long armed motorcade. They also risk being shot dead for coming within the 10-meter perimeter of state house. They live in constant and real fear of losing their lives because unlike other places, here the respect for the right to life is in short supply. They have seen footage of police bashing in the heads of dissenters with baton sticks. They have witnessed peaceful protesters like the WOZA women beaten thoroughly in places normal people would hesitate to hit a woman. Some people have died mysteriously or just disappeared. Can Zimbabweans then be blamed for fearing for their lives?
In short, there is a hell of a lot Mbeki, or our neighbors can do. For instance, we applaud the move by members of SATAWU and the South African naval intelligence for resisting and blocking the entry of the arms reportedly en route to Zimbabwe aboard a Chinese ship. Some sensible people realized the arms were headed into a peaceful country full of defenseless people who were just going to be annihilated simply for daring to want a different government. We are grateful for that. Should the arms arrive somehow, (which is very likely to happen thanks to Mugabe’s loyal friends in SADC), at least SA should be proud for having done the right thing.
Another thing Mbeki, SA or the rest of SADC can do is make it difficult for these big chefs to enter their countries. Hit them with another wave of sanctions; ‘local’ ones this time around. A few colleagues also feel that South African can be a little more tolerant of Zimbabwean refugees. The reports of serious xenophobia down south are distressing. It may help for our neighbors to remember that this can easily happen to them also, and they’d have to depend on others for mere survival.
Mr Mbeki could also be helpful by either keeping quiet and admitting he can’t handle it then step down, or if not, at least stop insulting people’s intelligence by misrepresenting the facts as they are. The man insists on describing his lack of action as diplomacy then has the nerve to say “loud diplomacy” is not diplomacy. Really? I thought the word diplomacy was a verb describing certain tact or artfulness intended to achieve something. What is quiet diplomacy anyway? Let me guess; wait and see? What is that intended to achieve?
If Annan could broker a deal that saw a semblance of peace descend on Kenya, then surely, talks conducted in the right way can achieve positive results? For a lot of people the question of what Mbeki can do, is out of question.
