Robert Mugabe Must Be Dumb!

Robert Mugabe Must Be Dumb!

I have tried to understand reasoning behind Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, stance to continue an unpopular election, in spite of pleas from the International community to postpone the election in the face of violence that has engulfed the South African nation. All I could come up with is the fact that, a man that has ruled his country for decades has lost it. How else would one describe a sitting president decision to continue an election or rather a charade, that is only opponent has backed out from and even went on to say that the election was peaceful!, what a joke!

Personally, I have always seen Robert Mugabe as a patient of identity crisis due to the moustache he keeps and his desire to purge his country of whites and western ties, he probably sees himself as the somewhat reincarnated Adolf Hitler of Africa. I commend Mugabe’s efforts and courage to free his nation from western imperialism, but not at the expense of the lives, rights and wishes of Zimbabweans.

President Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party regard the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and its flag bearer Morgan Tsvangirai as puppets of the west. Several years ago Mugabe forcefully seized Lands of White farmers, to purse his Land reform Programme as other hundreds fled Zimbabwe for safety. That policy and sanctions passed on Zimbabwe for the policy, directly or indirectly crippled Zimbabwe’s economy and has led the country to the worst ever recorded inflation surge of 1.6million%. A teacher in Zimbabwe typically earns Z$40billion a month and a liter of cooking oil costs Z$20billion.

Three months ago Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC party defeated Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party in the general elections, albeit without an outright majority to secure an outright win. Against this Backdrop, Mugabe and his party employed the violence and threat strategy ahead of the run off elections. Both the Military and the Zanu-PF militia men resorted to threats, killing, rape, humiliation and jailing of opposition members and their Families, based on trumped up charges. In other cases thousands of opposition supporters were forced from their homes or had their identity cards destroyed so they cannot vote. A number of rapes have also been reported, including three women who had wooden poles thrust into their vaginas. The MDC national election director, Ian Makone who had gone underground in the face of the violence, had his drivers body found after been abducted, with knives and screwdrivers stabs. His eyes were gouged out and face burned. “There is a pattern, they torture you, make you really really feel pain before you die” said Makone

In conclusion, my heart goes out to Morgan Tsvangirai for dropping out of the race, not out of cowardice or insincerity, but for the love and sympathy of the plight of his supporters and Zimbabweans at large given the violence in the land. This is an attitude that should be emulated by African leaders, political or public positions holder. They should not see elective and political offices as a do or die affair (if I should borrow the words of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria). The overriding interest of its citizens should always come first. Should this be the trend all the wars witnessed in this continent could all have been averted. Sacrifice is the only price for peace . Despite of pleas from world leaders for a postponement of the run off elections, Robert Mugabe went ahead to hold the elections with him being the only candidate in the race, how dumb! No matter the outcome of these events, Morgan Tsvangirai has and would always have the mandate of Zimbabweans.