SADC's widening credibility gap

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Opinion Zone

15 November 2008

By Dr Paul Mutuzu

Events that took place over the weekend further undermined the credibility of SADC whose image is being severely battered by irreparable damage emanating from the worsening humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.

As poverty, hunger and disease escalate compounded with distressing news that 4 million Zimbabweans face starvation, SADC once again chose a path of selfishness and immorality especially knowing fully that Mugabe has nothing to offer to his people except more misery, blood, toil, tears and sweat.

SADC heads of states conveniently forget to take into cognizance the interconnectedness of the region. There is no doubt that problems facing Zimbabwe directly affect their own countries economically, socially and politically.

For instance it is inconceivable that the world will let South Africa play host to 2010 World cup against a background of increasing political and social instability overflowing into South Africa from Zimbabwe. Recent xenophobic attacks that left scores of foreigners (mostly Zimbabweans) brutally murdered are a stark reminder of the delicateness of the situation.

While SADC's failure to act in defence of democracy comes as no surprise given the bloc's notoriety for dictatorial solidarity, mindlessly supporting Mugabe's illegitimacy when the crisis is peaking displays complete insensitivity to the plight of the Zimbabwean citizens. In any case Mugabe is their political god-father except Seretse Khama of Botswanaand the late Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia.

Many people had hoped that the advent of Zuma-Motlanthe administration would depart from the failed 'quiet diplomacy' of Thabo Mbeki who ironically, brazenly entrenched the dictatorships of Zimbabwe and Sudan. (see article “The Indictment of Thabo Mbeki” www.nationalvision.wordpress.com). Mr Motlanthe is a known ally of Mugabe who as head of the South Africa observer mission, shamelessly validated Zimbabwe's rigged 2002 elections declaring them as 'completely free and fair.'

Mr Motlanthe's impartiality is questionable as he is also on record for denouncing the MDC stating that “ MDC is not a political party” (September 2004, in an interview with O'Malley). He went on to pander to the fears of the usual neo-colonialism diatribe used by Mugabe saying, "If you have a legitimate government and state and you have external powers seeking to dislodge that legitimate government what you are saying to us, the ANC, is that you would do the same tomorrow to us."

The natural starting point for SADC if it is serious about solving the Zimbabwe crisis is a sober realization that Zimbabwe has a dictatorship whose ostracism is long overdue. SADC's proposal to have a co-managed Home Affairs plays to Zanu PF's advantage as it will lead to another usurpation of power.

Morgan Tsvangirai again showed great leadership in rejecting Mugabe's self-serving offer with the contempt it deserves because it does not safeguard the interests of the people of Zimbabwe who rejected Mugabe overwhelmingly. The world cannot continue to subcontract incompetent SADC or AU to solve Zimbabwe's worsening crisis which has dragged on for more than seven years.

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