SADC fails to condemn Mugabe’s human rights abuses

By Tererai Karimakwenda
30 March, 2007

Heads of state from 14 member countries that make up the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced Thursday that they had agreed to let South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki take the lead in trying to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe. But there was no public condemnation of the human rights abuses that have shocked the world or any clear plan to open up democratic space in a country that is currently in a virtual state of emergency. Excitement on the ground in Zimbabwe quickly subsided as the extraordinary summit of the regional grouping convened in Tanzania came to a close.

It was hoped the African leaders would be tough on Mugabe, after seeing the disturbing images of battered opposition leaders and activists that dominated headlines around the world in the last few weeks. SADC was also expected to insist that Mugabe end the cycle of violence against his own people and conduct free and fair elections. But instead they simply repeated his propaganda on Western interference and British obligations regarding land reform. It was shocking that the SADC leaders chose to go along with Mugabes rhetoric and merely called on the west to drop ‘sanctions’ while adding that the British must pay for land reforms in Zimbabwe. But the sanctions they spoke of are targeted sanctions aimed at Mugabe himself and his closest allies. They are not the cause of Zimbabwe’s economic decline, as Mugabe has been telling the world.

John Kulekana, a journalist with The Daily News in Tanzania, said reporters did not challenge the sanctions issue or attack Mugabe for the violence against the opposition, which they all saw on television. They instead questioned Kikwete about a time frame for the proposed talks between Mugabe and the opposition if there are to be elections in Zimbabwe in 2008. Kulekana said no details were provided about any of the resolutions made.

Kulekana also said there are many people in Tanzania who still regard Mugabe as a hero, but they are disappointed that he is insisting on holding on to power after 27 years. He explained that this is an important issue for them because in their country elections are held regularly without fail and they will not tolerate it any other way. Mugabe looked weak according to Kulekana’s observations. He said age was showing on the 83 year old dictator in Dar-es-Salaam.
Mbeki was given the unenviable task of arranging talks between Robert Mugabe and leaders from the Movement Democratic Change, most of whom are still recovering from injuries sustained at the hands of Mugabe’s trained thugs. That Mbeki was chosen to mediate was no surprise to many observers and ordinary Zimbabweans. But it dashed any hopes of progress because he has still not criticized Mugabe publicly. This is despite recent statements against Mugabe by his own Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the official opposition Democratic Alliance party, the umbrella labour union COSATU and parliamentarians in his own African National Congress. Mbeki appears to have forgotten that his own initiative for Africa’s development, NEPAD, promotes democracy and good governance as the foundation for international investment.

What will be remembered most about this SADC summit is that Mugabe escaped criticism again and African leaders failed to reign in one of their own for his errant ways. Observers believe this is what keeps Africa from developing as a democratic entity.