Progress on Zimbabwe?

It has nothing to do with the philosophy of communism, which is foreign to us black people. What appealed to us most over our induction into communism was the firm instruction that: ‘Once you had become the government, you remain in government for ever.’ – Robert Mugabe

The economy is forecast to grow by seven per cent next year. This is, of course not a reference to Ireland’s current economic fortunes, but Zimbabwe’s. The land-locked southern African state has had to face long periods of isolation by the western world due to the tyrannical leadership of Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

Mugabe’s control of Zimbabwe is absolute and many human rights abuses have ruined and divided the once ‘bread basket of Africa’. In March 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections were held and they resulted in Mugabe and his party, ZANU – PF, losing power…

That was the initial outcome but, no official result was announced until nearly six months later, (September 2008). The period between March and September 2008 was used by those ruling the country to intimidate, attack and ultimately to try to ‘correct’ the result. Mugabe and ZANU – PF would not be happy until his forces had beaten the people into complying with his orders.

Many were either left to die or become displaced and the majority of Zimbabweans had their democratic rights trampled on by state-sponsored thuggery. How anyone could suggest that Zimbabwe was democratic is unbelievable. As if the political and human rights abuse was not enough to despair about, an awful disease, Cholera, became widespread ushered on by desperate sanitary conditions. Zimbabwe had a humanitarian crisis to contend with.

Eventually Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement Democratic Change leader, carved out an agreement with his bitter foe, Mugabe, and his henchmen. A national government was established, in February 2009. Theoretically it would return the country to economic and social prosperity but it was fundamentally undemocratic with the key roles still gripped by ZANU – PF.

This ‘unitary’ style of government never allowed true democracy to flower: the treatment of Roy Bennett, an MDC member, was another example of the failure of the ‘partnership’. Mr Bennett, a white Zimbabwean, was due to be made deputy minister of agriculture and was jailed on trumped up charges. Eventually progress was made and he was released, but only after strenuous efforts were made on his behalf.

So it is nearly a year in government and the ‘unitary’ administration is showing signs of economic progress, something many countries around the world would envy. However everyone wants an end to the human rights breaches in Zimbabwe. If and when there is true freedom in the land of the Victoria Falls, we can then say that real progress has been achieved. A great, proud nation will be restored to its rightful place but, one senses, we’re not at that stage yet.

There are many friends of Zimbabwe around the globe and we will stand together for a better future, a future where respect and tolerance of difference will prevail. That is what most Zimbabweans want and they should not be prevented from living in a democratic, accountable state, free from the whims of a dictatorship.