While the despot Robert Mugabe remains in control of the armed forces in neighbouring Zimbabwe, thereby stalling any chance of a recovery beginning in that beleaguered country, South Africa and its other African trading partners will be tarred with the same brush by the First World. The situation perpetuates the perception that Africans do not hold their leaders accountable, but rather look up to them because of their positions instead of their abilities and capabilities.
Thabo Mbeki has shown that he is merely one of Mugabe’s pawns and has no desire whatsoever to pressure him to resign.
It is high time that the South African government, (the ANC), stands up and clearly demonstrates its intention to respect the democratic rights of the Zimbabwean people by assisting them in this crisis. If it doesn’t do so, the international community will begin to realise that the post apartheid regime is not much better than the racist apartheid one that preceded it.
