Zimbabwe - Mugabe continues to destroy this nation but African nations remain mute!

ZIMBABWE - Mugabe continues to destroy this nation but African nations remain mute!

The long lasting leader of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, continues to manipulate power and to slowly destroy this nation. All opposition outside the ruling party is crushed and inflation is beyond reason or understanding. However, regional nations, and notably South Africa, have been quiet about this despot so why are African leaders ignoring this brutal regime?

For South Africa this question is even stronger because Zimbabwe shares the same geographic space and millions of people from Zimbabwe have fled to South Africa in the hope of a better life. Yet what did they get, yes, they got mass exploitation, alienation, negative treatment, and they are treated with scorn. Even worse, the government of South Africa even sent the police into a church to arrest nationals from Zimbabwe, therefore, the government of South Africa have failed their lofty "halo image."

When South Africa was despotic and you had white minority rule, then a host of nations and individuals did their utmost to help the marginalized in the old South Africa. Mandela was "a rare light" and the ANC appeared to have noble values. However, what have the ANC done for the people of Zimbabwe? To be honest, not a lot, and of course they continue to talk and support Robert Mugabe.

Other nations in Africa also have not done enough and how can they talk about African unity when they allow a despot to destroy a nation like this? The economy is in crisis and inflation is even higher than a five day cricket score. But still little is done to challenge this brutal despot. Therefore, the people of Zimbabwe feel betrayed and neglected within the institutions of Africa.

Given this, only an internal challenge within the ruling elite power structure can change anything. Or of course the death of Robert Mugabe or ill health would certainly alter things. But the question remains, why have other African nations ignored this brutal dictator? Their silence not only destroys all hope within Zimbabwe but it also destroys all hope in Africa. Either you support democracy and the victims or you turn the other way and do nothing?

In the case of Zimbabwe then they decided to do nothing. Therefore, the institutions of Africa have betrayed the people of Zimbabwe and of course the image of Africa is tarnished by this issue. Will respective democratic leaders in the future emerge and challenge the status quo or will it be a slow death like usual via ignorance?

Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

http://journals.aol.com/leejaywalker/uk/