Zimbabwe: "the future is bleak"

A former Zimbabwean politician gave a negative assessment on the future of Zimbabwe, at a lecture in central Dublin last night.Michael Auret was speaking at a lecture in the Catholic Library, Merrion Square and told his audience of how he was "struck by the intellect" of Robert Mugabe when he met the Zimbabwean President for the first time in the late 1970s. However this was tempered by subsequent events and the white Zimbabwean says "the future is bleak indeed."

Auret cites the seizure of property, owned by white farmers, and political violence for the collapse of Zimbabwe. Another problem was the destruction of the irrigation system in the farms. This has, he said, resulted in high rates of unemployment. Zimbabwe is in desperate need of skilled labour to overcome these problems and the many exiled professionals must return if there is to be any respite.

When questioned by the audience, Auret said it was hard to explain the wealth Mugabe and his supporters have accumulated but is certain of the inequality that pervades. In order to change this, and many other forms of injustice, there must be constitutional and electoral reform. Auret mentioned several figures who have tied themselves to the Mugabe regime.

When asked about Morgan Tsvangirai, Auret says the MDC leader has made a mistake in participating in the unity government, formed in 2009. He is not positive on the subject of reconciliation in Zimbabwe and expresses great sadness at the country he has left.

One speaker,describing himself as a 'Colonialist', told of the torture and intimidation experienced in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). He went on to criticise the Thatcher government and its handling of the Lancaster House agreement which paved the way for the formation of Zimbabwe in 1980.

Auret wound up the meeting by pointing out the increasing strength of Chinese investment in Africa. He spoke of the Chinese as being "the next colonisers" in Africa's future. "Africa is a prize" and this explained the level of colonial interest in the continent.

Michael Auret is the author of 'From Liberator to Dictator: An Insider's Account of Robert Mugabe's Descent into Tyranny'