Dear Editor,
The front page of the Zimbabwe Times of February 18 carried very contrasting images of Zimbabwe. Firstly, the EU just extended the targeted sanctions on Mugabe and his cronies. The targeted sanctions came into being because of Mugabe’s continued human rights abuses. Secondly, on the same page, Mugabe threatens to ditch the diamond rules (Kimberly process). If anyone wanted to plead on behalf of Zimbabwe for the removal of the targeted sanctions, such an advocate would fail since the defendant, Mugabe, is unrepentant. By threatening to ditch the diamond rules he shows that he is not bothered by the possible reaction of the international community. He parrots long and loud that the EU’s targeted sanctions led by Britain and the United States are aimed at regime change. These sanctions target less than 200 individuals, all Mugabe’s cronies, and a few companies related to ZANU PF, so the claim that Zimbabwe is under sanctions is an improbable way of seeking sympathy.
Thirdly, the diamonds mined in Chiadzwa, Marange are at the centre of a controversy. They have been mined illegally, and the army stands accused of killing hundreds of people after Mugabe deployed the military to drive out thousands of locals and foreigners from the diamond rich area. Human rights organizations have called these ‘blood-diamonds.’ It is ridiculous that Mugabe calls for the lifting of ‘sanctions’ before he does some introspection about his illegal transactions. Large quantities of the mineral continue to be sourced and smuggled out of the country. The military is contracted to protect the mineral fields just as they protect the interests of the top military brass and Mugabe’s corrupt officials.
Mugabe has grossly abused human rights, killed thousands of people over the years, and yet he wants support from the MDC and the international community on the lifting of sanctions. This is outrageous and absurd. If Mugabe truly threatens to ditch the diamond rules, then he is unrepentant. He wants to use unethical means to sell the diamonds, avoiding the stringent international rules. He is a man full of himself yet claims to work for the people of Zimbabwe, thousands of whom he has killed while millions have been turned into political and economic refugees.
Mugabe has attacked the Kimberly Process saying, “[They] are trying to play it their own way, but we can go outside that KP system and do it otherwise. We can sell our diamonds our own way anyway.” This is the impenitent Mugabe and smacks not just of pride but insanity at the same time. In 1999, Mugabe authorized the illegal invasion of white-owned farms and distributed these to party cadres, but most of them at present lie idle. There has been no accountability on who benefited from the so called ‘land redistribution.’
On February 9, the qausi-government of Mugabe published regulations governing “Indigenization and Economic Empowerment” making it compulsory for foreign-owned [white] companies in Zimbabwe to hand over majority control to black persons. It is most surprising that in November 2009, Zimbabwe announced that Sonangol, a Chinese-Angolan joint venture was investing US$8 million in five deals involving gold and platinum refining, oil and gas exploration, fuel purchase and distribution and housing. This new regulation would mean this same venture should not to be excluded, but will have 51 per cent of its shares ‘allotted’ to black Zimbabweans. The government expropriated Mutumwa Mawere’s business entities and failed to run them, and it failed also with the ZABG. Mugabe must be a dreamer, apart from being a plunderer.
Millions of Zimbabweans have been turned into political and economic refugees because of Mugabe’s pathetic policies. His tyrannical government failed in the land redistribution policy and it is certain the present ‘Indigenization and Economic Empowerment’ deal is unviable. Farms are lying idle as Zimbabweans starve, yet this man proceeds with one hopeless policy after another.
At 86 years of age, he has ceased to function rationally, especially where policy formulation and decision-making on a national level is concerned. Instead of transferring power and leadership to able-bodied and minded persons, Mugabe thinks Zimbabwe’s problems would be solved solely by ‘indigenization’ [Mugaberization]. What Zimbabwe needs is a new constitution and fresh, free and fair elections to bring to office a democratic government for the betterment of the people. Mugabe has become a liability, and the country is being plundered politically and economically.
Yours faithfully
Capulet B Chakupeta
