Robert Mugabe: A Mistake in African History

Posted on my facebook group, on December 15, 2009 at 8:00 PM

Gab O'Waye II

Recently quoted to Mugabe was that the people should protect their birthright as he uncharacteristically pointed towards a new election.

Mugabe, if by fact, is the third longest serving African leader. A man who started with all accolades in majestic flavour as a democratic leader, but with the temptations of leadership ignored and forsook the virtues that led him to being.

It was recently reported people of Zimbabwe particularly, the youths, travel to neighbouring countries, especially South Africa in pursuit of jobs. That alone signals to a total bad economy that needs a genuine and collective intervention to boost her morale.

Despite what has been happening recently, this has been a country over the years where the current leadership has been a shameful failure, but instead of giving room to the salvation of the economy and to the betterment of many lives the so-called leaders would have served, they clung to power to prevent arrest, to discourage liberty, to enable disharmony; while the peoples’ wail has been a smooth tune to the ears of the government. The last election guided by international and local electoral watch bodies yielded no fruitful return either.

The running contestant, Morgan Tsvangirai, who was believed to have won, had nothing to cling to but yields to eventual power sharing that has not brought any positive impact or rather, a mask to a poisonous wound that deepens as each day passes.

So I ask myself, is the recent signal to fresh election, the awaited solution to Zimbabwe non-seeming unending crisis? Is the call to protect “birthright” according to Mugabe, a call for the people to protect their votes, or for his cabinet members to protect their offices?

Also, recently reported was Tony Blair’s claim that Saddam has to be ousted even though their was clear indication that there was no weapon of mass destruction there with him. Am I the only one not surprised with the confession? It is obvious Bush had scores to settle with Hussein, but that is not the major concern here but the number of lives that have been wasted over the Bush-Hussein saga. Iraq is left in turmoil; more troops are being sent to the mid-east countries like Afghanistan, even as terrorism becomes a target. As McCain stated, “this is a matter of counter-insurgency not counter-terrorism”. I believe if 1/10 of the number of troops deployed to these countries, have been deployed to some African countries like Zimbabwe to rescue and stabilize government, it would be different news rather history. Yet African countries like that need limited number of troops, well disciplined to be guided by UN and AU, as they embark on a fruitful mission of not overthrowing the government or attempt to re-colonize the people but to give to the people what rightly belongs to them – a good leadership; to protect their votes, to maintain peace, and to leave the governance and economy to the people the soonest peace reigns and confidence in the government, trust in the country is restored.

For Zimbabwe to get back to track, Mugabe is an overdone actor who does not know how to quit when the audience are still laughing. He is just one of the many mistakes in African history.

Gabriel Omololu Omowaye writes, for Beryl Group, African News.