World Watches While Zimbabwe Dies

Zimbabwe a little landlocked country in Southern Africa gained prominence when Mugabe 's chaotic and violent seizures of white owned farms became a media focal point. Then there was the issue of election rigging which brought the suspension and dismissal from the Commonwealth body. The EU and the US also threw in sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies. Meanwhile all of the various inter-governmental organisations in Africa failed to act on Mugabe, SADC, AU they actually took sides with the dictator despite evidence that he had stolen elections in Zimbabwe. African leaders also impeded the UN from investigating and passing a resolution on Zimbabwe they used they bloc voting to deny ordinary Zimbabweans to seek political recompense from the UN.

Mugabe stole elections in 2000, its six years and a lot of people that were once concerned about Zimbabwe are moving on. When CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting) convened last year in Malta, Zimbabwe was never mentioned. The Zimbabwean issue almost threatened to split the organisation along African/western countries line at its height. The suspension of Zimbabwe from the commonwealth was seen as a compromise, as the Commonwealth organisation was ready to expel Zimbabwe but suspended it to meet the demands by Mbeki and Obasanjo. How eerily quite was The Commonwealth last year on Zimbabwe, asked by journalist why Zimbabwe was not part of the agenda McKinnon (The Secretary General) argued that Zimbabwe was no longer part of the commonwealth hence there was no discussion. Its ironical really if you look at it, South Africa which was suspended and expelled from the commonwealth during apartheid, but the South African issue was always on the agenda of the two-yearly meeting of former English speaking colonies of Britain. Not even Murambatsvina

Its not only Commonwealth which is forgetting about Zimbabwe its been reported that the US is to resume its talks with SADC which had been suspended over Zimbabwe. Last year the EU also made a shift of policy arguing that isolating Mugabe had harmed dialogue with other African countries. Increasingly wherever you look organisations and governments are starting to engage Mugabe. Analysts are arguing that the US is merely protecting its interests globally against fierce competition from China.

Koffi Annan is set to visit Zimbabwe in March this year. I just wonder if has the bottle to come out and calls for action on Zimbabwe by the security council. Anything other than that would not be accepted because frankly speaking despite shift of policy of US towards Zimbabwe nothing is changing. Other than he can not afford to gloss over the human rights issue in Zimbabwe after he accepted reports by two envoys he had sent to Zimbabwe.

The partisan police raided the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union offices on Tuesday they were armed. They were looking at allegations of financial mismanagement they say. We all know that it was a political move aimed at embarrassing the ZCTU leadership and tarnish its image. The solidarity shown by COSATU towards their fellow compatriots in Zimbabwe should be applauded, including the picketing of the Zimbabwean border to protest about the situation in Zimbabwe. Equally also is their call to Mbeki that he cannot sit idly while Zimbabwean deteriorates.

If you had the priveledge to read or listen to Ambassador Dell's speech at Africa University in Mutare last year. You will not have noted that he was spot on that the economic collapse of Zimbabwe had been brought by government's mismanagement. He said a country that is vying for investments should create a situations were they is investor confidence. No sane investor will invest in Zimbabwe, even for Zimbabweans scattered across the diaspora investment in Zimbabwe is area where one needs to tread carefully. Against this backdrop Made our joke Minister of Agriculture has threatened to withdraw licenses for banks that do extend line of credit to black farmers. irregardless of their circumstances. The business people with actual investments in Zimbabwe have also called for South African government to take a new approach on Zimbabwe.

If you think the Zimbabwean situation can be forgotten and people can move on, think again because if the CIO is capable of this then Zimbabwe should still be on everyone's agenda from US to the Commonwealth