No Progress

I have just listened to Morgan Tsvangirai's interview on SWradio Africa with some interest. Basically, Tsvangirai is not in Zimbabwe and his whereabouts are not being revealed.

And that is just how it should be. Unfortunately, many people at the grassroots perhaps do not understand this position and they are feeling a bit abandoned and vulnerable because they are facing the new onslaught from Mugabe's murdering minions. Sadly though, that is exactly how things need to be now.

The abductions are continuing unabated. Mugabe's own judiciary have ruled against him and instructed his militia (police) to find these people and they have ignored the court. The rest of the world is shouting out that this must stop and Mugabe has ignored them because he knows that they are saying "Stop!!! or else... we will have to say stop again!", but they will actually do nothing about it. If Tsvangirai re-appears in Zimbabwe who can honestly say that he will not be arrested and disappear. And on this occasion, Mugabe and his murderers will have an "excuse" to "arrest" him - as he is travelling without a passport.. which, of course, they are illegally with holding!

Mugabe knows that whatever he does, no one will intervene. So it is not without basis to imagine that he is very tired of the headaches caused by Tsvangirai and his party and, having tested the world's response thus far with all the current abductions.. of both high profile humanitarians, party members and even a baby (just to make sure he sees what everyone would say to extreme outrage), what he now knows is that whatever he does, there is no reaction or response that will cause him any problems - even if the same fate befalls Morgan Tsvangirai. So yes, Tsvangirai needs to stay well away from Zimbabwe at the moment. Especially since, whilst he is outside the country, he can really raise the international temperature.

It is still my contention though, that Tsvangirai needs to accept the Botswana governments' offer of a safe haven in which to set up a government in exile. But, before he does this, he will need to secure the support of the international community. They need to acknowledge that Tsvangirai IS the legally and properly elected leader of the people and nation of Zimbabwe. And they need to pledge to engage ALL their official business with this government in exile and absolutely ignore and stonewall Mugabe and his thieves.
The United Nations (yes, that clueless, hapless gathering of ineffectuality) must STOP inviting Mugabe and his people to anywhere. Mugabe's foreign officials need to be turfed out of their embassies and High Commissions and deported. This will begin the real process of telling Mugabe he is illegal and must go.
And this is not something outside the power of western nations who are finally calling for regime change (despite Mugabe's assertion that they have been for some time) to effect. Without the USA, the UK and the EU, the UN will stop functioning. Without the aid money these countries pump into Africa, the AU will fall apart and government will be unstable. The western world needs to stop feeding people the line that negotiating is the only way - they have done this for years and years in Africa in general.. and nothing has changed. Why? Because the great river of aid money continues to flow. So now, even in the midst of depression, they must still support this mass of corrupt governments in Africa that have no intention of changing their ways, or growing a backbone and standing up straight for what is right. Until that happens.. nothing will ever change or develop in Africa.

And, perhaps that is what everyone prefers - God forbid that an African Nation with its wealth of resources suddenly became viable! That would mean that the rest of the world might actually have to accord Africans their rightful place and that would mean they lose all control of Africa. We simply couldn't have that now could we?

Anyway, I digress!

Having secured the backing of the international community, if Tsvangirai set up government and pressure (real economic pressure) was applied to Zimbabwe's remaining recalcitrant neighbours to close the borders.. I guarantee a lot less people would die and Mugabe and company would, as Botswana and Kenya repeatedly point out, be gone in a few weeks. The suffering would end then and there and proper government could take over, proper aid could come in and function under the protection of the police and army, and that would be that. Tracking down Mugabe and his criminals could then be pursued with great detail and a LOT of money could be recovered to help rebuild the country!

Mugabe's remarks are becoming more and more crazy and his followers (which the world press still insist on referring to as "ministers") are becoming more and more rabid. It still amazes me though, that some news services, notably those in South Africa, continue to refer to ZANU-pf as "the ruling party".. they should be calling it what it is - Zimbabwe's illegal dictatorship.

MDC - it is time to set up government - not with Mugabe, but against Mugabe, as you have been elected to do. Negotiating is merely playing out the game Mugabe's way - you have nothing to negotiate - Mugabe and ZANU-pf lost the election, Tsvangirai and the MDC won the election - stop giving Mugabe any form of credibility by continuing this farcical and endless negotiating - step up and form a government. I, and many of my colleagues will sign to you as you are legally elected. You will find a fair number of colleagues trapped in the now ZANU-pf militias (police and army) will cross the border to help. And I am sure Botswana will assist - it serves to strengthen the MDC position and weaken Mugabe's grip on power!