The irresponsible Joaquim Chissano...

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 September 2006

Mozambique’s former President Joaquim Chissano courted controversy on Monday when he said forcing Robert Mugabe out of power could compound Zimbabwe’s political crisis and even lead to civil war. In an interview with Reuters Chissano, a close ally of Mugabe, took issue with what he called a Western obsession with term limits for Africa’s Presidents, and was critical of calls to force Mugabe’s departure after 26 years at the helm.

‘If Mugabe steps down, what will happen then?’ asked Chissano, whose country has historic ties with Zimbabwe, forged during their wars of liberation.

But his statements are certain to infuriate opposition politicians in Zimbabwe who have in the last six years challenged Mugabe’s authoritarian rule.

MDC ’s Secretary for International Affairs Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro said perhaps Chissano’s statement was directed towards Zanu (PF) because ‘that’s where war is likely to break out between feuding rivals in the party.’ ‘That was an unfortunate and irresponsible statement by Chissano. MDC is peaceful political party that is fighting Mugabe democratically through the ballot. The party has no capacity to wage a civil war in the country and it will never engage itself in any war,’ Prof Mukonoweshuro said.

Describing the current state of events in Zimbabwe, Chissano said; ‘What is happening now is bad, but it could be worse - a big situation of violence could lead to internal war.’ But Chissano, who was the best man at Mugabe’s wedding, implied that Mugabe should have acted in the national interest and planned an orderly and dignified exit. ‘There are some cases that (you realise) you are hindering ...democracy and development so you say ‘yes, I will step down,’ he said. He said such a move could have saved Zimbabwe from its political and economic crisis.