Condemning The Despot

RECENT events in Zimbabwe are totally unacceptable.

The Government of that country is again at the forefront of human rights abuses. Notwithstanding the fact that some MDC cadres were involved in property damage and beating of the police, once someone is in custody, the state is under obligation to protect such an individual.The fact that the leaders of opposition were beaten to near death while is custody shows the deterioration of the once beautiful flower of Africa.To compare the treatment meted out to its people with the situation in Guantanamo Bay is just folly.At least leaders of the West respect their people.This is not the case in Africa.Africans talk when human rights are violated by Westerners.Before the liberation of Namibia and South Africa, African leaders subjected the Pretoria regime to sanctions and concerted campaigns to rid the two countries of apartheid.The same cannot be said concerning our neighbour.What does it say of a leader who systematically engineers policies to exile his people? What does it say of a leader who runs his economy down to the benefit of only a few people? Unless African leaders can exceed the righteousness of the West, Africans will continue to wallow in abject poverty and misery.We need to transfer our solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe rather than to a despot whose only aim is reduce his people to nought.History shall be our judge! Muhanduzi Via e-mail Note: Real name and address provided – EdNotwithstanding the fact that some MDC cadres were involved in property damage and beating of the police, once someone is in custody, the state is under obligation to protect such an individual.The fact that the leaders of opposition were beaten to near death while is custody shows the deterioration of the once beautiful flower of Africa.To compare the treatment meted out to its people with the situation in Guantanamo Bay is just folly.At least leaders of the West respect their people.This is not the case in Africa.Africans talk when human rights are violated by Westerners.Before the liberation of Namibia and South Africa, African leaders subjected the Pretoria regime to sanctions and concerted campaigns to rid the two countries of apartheid.The same cannot be said concerning our neighbour.What does it say of a leader who systematically engineers policies to exile his people? What does it say of a leader who runs his economy down to the benefit of only a few people? Unless African leaders can exceed the righteousness of the West, Africans will continue to wallow in abject poverty and misery.We need to transfer our solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe rather than to a despot whose only aim is reduce his people to nought.History shall be our judge! Muhanduzi Via e-mail Note: Real name and address provided – Ed