Tutu says Africa should condemn rights abuses in Zimbabwe

By Lance Guma
08 May 2007

South Africa’s Nobel peace prizewinner Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called on Africa to condemn human rights violations in Zimbabwe. He also called on the South African government to consider threatening action against Mugabe if the situation remained unchanged. In an interview with Reuters via video link from Hawaii, Tutu said many Zimbabweans felt betrayed by the failure of African leaders to condemn a widening crackdown on the opposition.

Tutu said there seemed to be a reluctance to call a spade a spade but as he observed, ‘human rights violations are human rights violations.’ He said most African countries were unwilling to condemn Mugabe because of his history as a ‘freedom fighter.’ The Archbishop however says despite him having a high regard for Mugabe, the Zanu PF leader had destroyed ‘an incredible country.’ Last month Tutu issued a similar statement blasting African leaders and saying they should feel ashamed of their silence on Zimbabwe. He went further to suggest South Africa should consider, ‘turning off the tap,’ (sanctions) if Mugabe refused to be persuaded to mend his ways.

Tutu, now 75 years old, is a former Archbishop of Cape Town who as the first black bishop in South Africa fought against the apartheid government. He was also instrumental in the success of the Truth and Reconciliation hearings that followed. According to Reuters Tutu is aboard the "Semester at Sea" ship with hundreds of students who have spent the past three months travelling the globe.

Reverend Nicholas Mkaronda who heads the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition chapter in South Africa told Newsreel Tutu’s remarks will help to build an African voice against Mugabe. He pointed to statements by the current African Union chairperson John Kuffour condemning human rights abuses in Africa as being part of a growing chorus of disapproval galvanising the continent. This tide of opinion was especially important in light of attempts by Mugabe to deliberately portray Zimbabwe’s problems as a black versus white issue.