Stalinist debris hindering African democratic progress

Stalinist debris hindering African democratic progress

By Mordekai Chikambure

THE world is changing everyday. Africa is at the forefront as it leaves behind the distant horizon of pain of racial discrimination, moving into a political set-up of peaceful democracy. This leaves behind all the paternalistic notions embedded in our colonial liberators who, not agreeing to change, continue to cling to power for life as if it is their individual birthright. Sad to say democracy and development in Africa continue to be dwarfed by these leaders whose original nationalist principles were founded on the communist ideology of dictatorship of the so-called masses.

Robert Mugabe whose colleagues with the same background have either retired, died or been dislodged from power by votes or coups, is the last remnant of the primitive politics that has become a dirty gravy stain on the continental integrity fabric. Here is a man who still sees the world as it was two decades ago before the iron curtain “walls came tumbling down”.

This was when he took up power after a protracted struggle in which he was sponsored by the then communist block. It was a time when a country like Zimbabwe could prostitute from America to Russia depending on who gave her attention. Now it is different. Short of joining the jihad Mugabe’s ranting about America “standing on an imaginary Mount Sinai bellowing orders at us” does not have any effect if what is being asked of him is to restore order in Zimbabwe.

The western proponents of peace and democracy do not mince words in condemning Mugabe’s abuse of power. Being arrogant and clever, Mugabe refuses to change because the quarters from which the noise come from is the same that he fought in the liberation war.

"Freedom can be fast-tracked in Zimbabwe through the language that Mugabe understands most – violence"

MORDEKAI CHIKAMBURE

Be that as it may the neighbors of Zimbabwe under pressure to help restore order beat their breasts like Pharisees claiming they are not like their neighbor. They have so far refused to come clean and condemn the evil perpetrated on the innocent Zimbabweans. One wonders why.

There is ample proof that few African liberation movements will relinquish power voluntarily. They refuse to believe that the very people who first voted them into power may later want to have a different political dispensation. Most of these parties have ruined their countries to the ground though they have heroic names to go with their countries’ histories.

Kwame Nkurumah of Ghana did the same thing, and the same goes for Samora Machel of Mozambique, Kenneth Kaunda, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Mobutu sese Seko and Sani Abacha. Mugabe is the last of these horrible species left and cast a dark cloud over the successful young democracy of South Africa.

In South Africa the ANC’s refusal to condemn Mugabe’s human wrongs record point a firm finger to the fact that they will want to see their party ruling forever. This is even evidenced by ANC’s recent outburst against COSATU and Archbishop Desmond Tutu who are known proponents of peace and democracy since apartheid.

ANC is frightened of COSATU forming a political party wing as happened in Zambia wherein Fredrick Chiluba’s MMD took up power and in Zimbabwe with Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) that later formed The Movement for Democratic Change after an impasse with ZANU-PF. This is the same reason why ANC refuses to condemn the violence perpetrated on the MDC members.

The Zimbabweans’ want for peace is evidenced by their deep frown on having to take Mugabe the way he came into power – through the barrel of a gun. Sadly they have been called placid and docile for this stance. As no one seems to be coming to the rescue, probably this is the time they should do so. They have been treated like dogs, and incidentally they have been barking all along without instilling any fear in ZANU-PF. The last thing to do is to bite.

Mugabe has created a generation of violence and hatred yet again through the NAZI styled militia trained under the guise of national service. For that reason freedom can be fast-tracked in Zimbabwe through the language that Mugabe understands most – violence. Even if it means that they will die trying!
Chikambure is a Zimbabwean political activist based in Johannesburg, South Africa
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