Dear Editor,
On May 8 in SN Mr D Ramprakash wrote a letter under the caption ‘Guyanese should be wary of Western vilification of “Third World” leaders.’
In that letter Ramprakash did what honest intellectuals are expected to do through their writings, ie inform/educate the public in a lucid way, especially the many unlearned observers who are gullible and prone to believe all kinds of propaganda, so they will have a better understanding of and form a more accurate judgment on issues, events and topics of national and international importance.
I have been in many discussions concerning Robert Mugabe and the recent elections in Zimbabwe, and there is hardly ever any sympathy for him. I myself have been critical of him. I still don’t make him out to be an angel even though I’m aware of the role he played in the struggle to liberate Zimbabwe from British grip and Ian Smith’s oppressive role. Yet for all his failings and faults, there are reasons why one can empathize with him, as Bishop Tutu has done (although not in any way excusing his atrocities on his own people.)
There were indeed a number of terrible wrongs done to Mugabe’s people that were never properly addressed, and Mr Ramprakash hit the nail flush on the head when he stated “the past has an iron grip on the present.” He then briefly informed us of the cruel wrongs/injustices that were meted to the Shona and the Ndebele people by the British; that they were suppressed, exploited and many of their leaders hanged.
Further, it is easy to reason that if 74% of the most fertile land is taken away from a people in their own country and controlled by a tiny few (4,000), such a ridiculous imbalance was indeed a recipe for anarchy, and it was only a question of time.
Mr Ramprakash also reminded us of prominent British/American multinationals who are against Mugabe for all forms of wrong and human rights violations, when in fact Africans’ problems stem largely from a ruthless colonial legacy. It is said that two wrongs do not make a right, but as someone said, “Yes! But you have to correct the first wrong.” I agree.
I commend Mr Ramprakash for his informational writing.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
