Today - Don't come to Zimbabwe to see the ruins of Rhodesia.

In 1980, Mugabe took over as liberator, after a protracted and bitter struggle.

Against expectations, he showed statemanship, by following a policy of reconciliation.

Zimbabwe did well for two decades, except for the Matabeleland Fifth Brigade massacres against Zapu (Nkomo).

After 20 years, his revolutionary status (yesterday, today and tomorrow) approached the expiry date.

He lost the 2000 referendum on extended powers.

The Zanu-PF mafia went berserk, blaming white farmers and the British.

Productive land was laid waste for short-term political gain.

Zimbabweans were intimidated and elections rigged.

Retirement was not an option.

The new millennium was the start of a nightmare.

Cry the beloved country.

With the recent March 2008 elections, Zimbabwe had the following unenviable record: Inflation of 160 000 per cent and an economy in free fall; unemployment of over 80 per cent; collapsed health, educational and public services; an average life expectancy of 35 years; international pariah status; poverty.

After 28 years, the old man insisted on re-election, at the age of 84, as nobody had given so much to Zimbabwe! The internal election results of 48 per cent (Tsvangirai) and 43 per cent (Mugabe) were delayed for more than a month, and rigged, to force a run-off election.

This would give Zanu-PF time to intimidate the opposition into submission.

Mugabe lost by a landslide, if you add the three million Zimbabweans who voted with their feet by escaping, mainly to South Africa.

(Remember the East Germans fleeing to West Germany).

This skills drain bled the country dry.

SADC and South Africa (Mbeki) (old boys' club) appeased Mugabe with respectful quiet diplomacy, like Chamberlain with Hitler in 1938.

The lessons to be learned are: Liberation is a fine process with an expiry date.

Democratic economic liberation is the real goal.

Presidential terms should be limited with a peaceful transition - see Mandela and Nujoma.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Zimbabwe is rapidly becoming a failed state with a massive refugee problem and a looming civil war.

Most refugees will flee to South Africa and jeopardise stability there, resulting in the 2010 World Cup being threatened, as an African showpiece.

Hitler, Mussolini, Idi Amin, Kabila, Milosevic, Ceacescu, Charles Taylor, Saddam Hussein etc all went down the drain.

The Nazis were held accountable at Nuremburg and the present tyrants face the international court of justice at The Hague.

Evil can only flourish, if good men remain silent (what crisis?) Mandela, the icon of "Truth and Reconciliation", is too old and dignified to comment, but has become a legend in his own lifetime.

I am privileged to serve the people I lead".

Mugabe and the non-response by SADC sabotage the programme of NEPAD (New Economic Partnership for African Development).

The first would will only help Africa, subject to good democratic governance, rule of law, free markets, free media, etc.

Zimbabwe is not an internal problem, but an example of the worst excesses by a tin-pot dictator who is driving his nation into submission.

The whole of Africa will suffer by association.

The Mbeki renaissance is stillborn.

In 1980, Mugabe threatened voters with the continuation of the war, if he lost.

In 2008, Mugabe again threatens voters with revenge and retribution, if he should lose.

The Truth of a Nation and the Future Generation has been betrayed.

It is a sad perverse fact that Zimbabweans were better off under Ian Smith, the white colonial oppressor.

Mandela Admirer Windhoek Note: Name and address provided - Ed

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