| Jun. 25th, 2005 @ 12:00 am (no subject) |
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During the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, Zimbabwe and its head of state, Robert Mugabe, was one of the biggest supporters of the African National Congress (ANC). Thanks to the hard fought efforts of Mugabe and his centre-left Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) party, Zimbabwe had won its freedom from white minority rule in 1980, holding free elections in February of that year. The nation - and Mugabe - had become a symbol of African democracy for other countries like South Africa still under the thumb of colonial masters at the time. Sadly, Mugabe has become what the former freedom fighter used to decry - an autocratic demagogue determined to crush the impoverished lower classes. Although there could be a (very specious) argument to be made in support of his appropriation of white-owned farmlands several years ago, his violent betrayal of his fellow travellers and the protracted suppression of dissent is unforgiveable.
On May 25, 2005, the ruling ZANU government, fresh off an election victory in April that left the party within one seat of the two-thirds majority that is required before a leader can change the constitution to allow him or her to appoint a successor, began a violent urban relocation campaign, dubbed 'Operation Murambatsvina' [get rid of the filth], across the country. So far over 200,000 informal traders and families have been displaced for what some have called political reasons. The main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had massive support among lower-class urban dwellers in the recent election, taking most of the country's urban constituencies. In response, Mugabe appears to be engaged in a deliberate campaign to further impoverish and starve the people he laudably fought for in his 70's-era efforts to liberate Zimbabwe from white minority rule. His actions highlight the megalomaniacal, despotic style of rule that has rendered his past struggle against colonial oppression irrelevant. Any moral and political capital Mugabe had with the common people - and, one hopes, the left AND right - has been squandered.
Charles Bird of Obsidian Wings has been covering the intentional displacement of poverty-striken urban Zimbabweans, calling for a 'blogging storm' of web-based global protest. (sidenote: I'm surprised Charles isn't utilizing - and lauding - Amnesty International's extensive coverage of the ongoing human rights disaster in Zimbabwe, what with him being such a proud member and all.)
While I normally agree with little of what Mr. Bird writes, I am in total agreement with him in this case (barring some strong reservations with regards to arms support and the alleged 'benefits' of civil conflict - although a lot of people seem to have forgotten that the struggle against apartheid in South Africa was hardly bloodless.) We should encourage him - and others - to keep up the attention and pressure on ZANU and Robet Mugabe. The human rights abuses committed by Robert Mugabe and his supporters must not be allowed to fall down the Western memory hole. While I deplore the term 'blogging storm' (please Charles, for the love of god, drop the cheesy catch-phrases and neologisms - 'democranami?' 'Democide'??), a concerted online effort is one means of spurring mainstream media focus on Zimbabwe in Canada and the US. The relative silence of most North American news outlets (especially on television) regarding this vitally urgent issue is pathetic, yet par for the course. Africa is normally not a Western priority, unless of course the bourgeoise require a symbolic outlet for their collective class guilt. (Oh, those poor starving savages. I know what we can do - throw a series of massive pop concerts!)
The before and after pictures of Zimbabwe's capital city, Harare, that Charles Bird linked to in his ObWi post illustrate Mugabe's murderous display of despotism. In just over one month, Mugabe's forces have razed market places and shanty-towns, purportedly to 'fight crime' and help the struggling Zimbabwean economy. The people who used to live in the destroyed areas are now homeless, have no income, and are facing starvation. A number of organizations including the UN, Combined Harare Residents Association and Zimbabwe Doctors For Human Rights estimate that the numbers could run well into the millions before the campaign ends.
We who give lip service to human rights and democratic freedom must actively support those in the region such as Bishop Desmond Tutu, who, along with Nelson Mandela (Mandela has urged Mugabe to step down), is one of the few ANC partisans who has dared to be critical of South Africa's policy of quiet diplomacy towards Zimbabwe. Tutu called Mugabe a "caricature of an African dictator", a most apt description. Bishop Tutu has also said that Zimbabwe has made a mockery of African Democracy:
We have a responsibility. People should see that we do really care about things like freedom, justice the basic freedoms for which we have fought...We have to say, places like Zimbabwe make almost a mockery of our saying that we are committed to these things and makes it difficult for those who are our friends.
The global reproachment continues to grow more voluminous. This past Thursday, 200 Human Rights Groups condemned the actions of Mugabe, calling upon the Afrcan Union (AU) and the UN to take action:
Strongly condemning the mass forced evictions, the coalition of organizations urged Nigerian President Obasanjo, as Chair of the AU, to put the crisis in Zimbabwe on the agenda of the upcoming AU Assembly --scheduled to take place in Libya on 4 - 5 July.
The coalition also called on relevant bodies at the UN, including the Secretary-General, to publicly condemn the ongoing mass violations and take effective action to stop them.
"The appointment of a UN Special Envoy to investigate the mass violations taking place in Zimbabwe is welcome," said a representative of the coalition. "But effective action
must also be taken immediately to help those already sleeping on the streets, beside the rubble of their homes -- and to ensure that the evictions and demolitions stop immediately."
"The AU and UN simply cannot ignore such an unprecedented, wide-ranging appeal on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, particularly from African civil society," said a coalition representative. "African solidarity should be with the people of Africa -- not their repressive leaders." (The entire statement is available here.)
The upcoming G8 summit, to be held in Scotland in July, is the perfect forum to step up demands for justice since South African President Mubeki is an invited participant. Admittedly, the West is in an awkward position thanks to past colonial misadventures in Africa. Our leaders need to be vocal and assertive without falling into the trap of colonial interference. They must continue to encourage outspoken individuals like Bishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela, along with local African human rights groups (the majority of signatories to Thursday's joint statement of condemnation) and Western nations must stand strong with the call for an immediate end to Operation Murambatsvina. The West cannot allow reflexive accusations of imperialism from callous, self-serving AU members who have become deaf to the will of their people to forestall adherence to universal principles of freedom and liberty.
Bob Geldof and the rest of the Live 8 organizers and participants should also take advantage of the global spotlight to condemn the political cleansing of urban citizens in Zimbabwe and to apply further pressure on the AU and the UN to take drastic steps at once. The issues of democracy, poverty and human rights in Africa are not mutually exclusive. |
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