Shame as AU lets Mugabe off the hook

By: John Mwazemba
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[ Posted On: 2008-07-07 ]

President Robert Mugabe walked leisurely, almost to a hero's welcome to the African Union Summit at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh.

Voice of America's Peter Heinlein reported that: "The continent's longest serving Head of State, Gabon's Omar Bongo, hailed Mugabe as a hero as he arrived for the start of this grand two-day affair at the gleaming seaside convention centre.

Reporters, photographers and diplomats loiter in the hallways wherever Mugabe goes, hoping to catch a word or snap a photo. Then, suddenly, there he is, flanked by bodyguards, only an arms length from a small gaggle of reporters, waiting, as if to say, ask me something!"

Mugabe seemed to dare all the presidents and heads of state at the summit to ask him anything! But none of them had the nerve to put him to task. Most did not even have the moral ground to confront him — and he knew it. That is why he didn't shy away from the summit.

Most African leaders (politicians included) are guilty of bungling elections in their countries.

As Heinlein put it: "One senior West African diplomat who asked not to be identified said this summit is doomed to inaction on the one issue on everyone's minds." He says, in the end, the organisation's hands are tied because, as he puts it, "Who among us can point the finger at Mugabe? We are all sinners."

Yoweri Museveni

Thinking of the state of democracy in Africa makes one shudder. In Uganda, for instance, President Yoweri Museveni changed the constitution to run for a third term. Kenya? Let us not go there — elections arouse in us murderous instincts. Libya? President Muammar Gaddafi refuses to be a hypocrite in this one – he does not even pretend to hold elections at all. In which case, Mugabe is "nearer democracy", at least he had sham elections. And for Egypt — the host of the summit — there are no elections, and the president reportedly has visions of grandeur, to pass the baton to his son, monarchy-style.

President Mugabe is in good rogue company. No wonder he felt at home in the summit, especially with a fiery spokesman ready to challenge anyone trying to raise a finger.

Reporters tried to corner Comrade Bob with questions.

Question: "Mugabe, how was your reception today? How was your reception, sir?"

Answer: "African, that is all."

Question: "How were you treated today?"

Answer: (Laughs)

Then Heinlein writes, "pandemonium breaks out, as journalists close in, and Mugabe's bodyguards shove back. Wow, there went Mr Mugabe. It was a wild mob scene. His bodyguards were throwing people left and right. Flying elbows and he was hustled into a conference room without saying much at all."

Mugabe Loses His Cool In Cairo

Stealing the elections wasn't a bad idea, after all, if this is the type of free press Comrade Bob gets. However, it is hard to fathom, by even the basest standards. Here was a 'winner' freshly from a widely discredited presidential election receiving the attention of a star instead of severe censure from fellow leaders. What happened to the 'African man character' in our leaders?

African Liberation

Since when did stealing elections and intimidating the opposition into silence become a mark of bravery? Since when did anyone receive accolades for brutalising unarmed citizens, breaking their legs or torturing them? Isn't that cowardice, proving that dictators, as it has been widely suspected, have the ego of a small child seeking attention and affirmation.

How can one explain all the unpredictability and irritability with as much as simple criticism? When Mugabe scowls and lifts up his "African liberation" fist and his spokesman, George Charamba — the hard-boiled guy in film noir — breathes fires and brimstone, one can be forgiven to see real patriotism and passion in telling the West "to go hang".

However, all these theatrics could be hiding the real fear of rulers whose days are numbered. Mugabe's colossus-with-the-clay-feet theatrics, remind one of Idi Amin, once described by Time Magazine as, "Uganda's porcine President-for-Life, Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada, 49, a man of mercurial personality, who in a short six years has caught the world's attention with his unpredictable and often deadly antics. He is killer and clown, big-hearted buffoon and strutting martinet. He can be as playful as a kitten and as lethal as a lion. He stands 6ft 4in tall and carries a massive bulk of nearly 300lbs, and within that girth courses the unharnessed ego of a small child, a craze for attention and reverence".

Instead of a strong rebuke, the AU summit ended with a soft and gentle communiquÈ to President Mugabe to consider forming a government of national unity. A gathering of presidents decided that it was good to continue hugging Mugabe as Zimbabwe goes down. What a shame!

We need action on Mugabe and not communiquÈs. Roman legend has it that when Cicero finished speaking, the people said, "My, how well he spoke." But when Demosthenes finished speaking the people said, "Let us march!"

We need more leaders like Demosthenes. We need action against Mugabe, he cannot have a free ride this time.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: John Mwazembwa is the editorial manager at Macmillan Kenya Publishers. Contact him at johnmwazemba[at]yahoo.co.uk

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