Opinion / Columnist
Mugabe exit plan, ill-advised, insensitive and probably illegal
21 Jul 2011 at 17:19hrs | Views
Shock and disbelief is how it feels about reports that the South African President Jacob Zuma and MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai have crafted a safe exit plan for Zanu-pf leader Robert Mugabe (The Zimbabwean, Zuma, PM agree Mugabe exit plan, 20/07/11).
Morgan Tsvangirai should be careful not to be seen to be insensitive to the Gukurahundi genocide especially as people would think all Shona people don't care about the human rights abuses committed against other ethnic groups in the country.
One needs to be very brave to read a full chapter of the Justice and Peace Commission's Report on Gukurahundi unmoved by emotion. Furthermore, reports that surviving mothers who were raped by soldiers are facing problems to obtain birth certificates for their children up to now are very distressing.
It would be grossly insensitive to try and work out a secret immunity plan for Mugabe amidst renewed anger about Gukurahundi genocide. Last year, Genocide Watch called for Mugabe and his army to be prosecuted for the Gukurahundi genocide.
Should Mugabe eventually stand trial and be found guilty for Gukurahundi massacres, it will not be out of revenge but the rule of law, therefore, any interference with the rule of law is bound to be controversial.
It would be ill-advised to alienate voters in Matabeleland North and South and Midlands by giving Mugabe a safe exit to South Africa where he was allegedly bought a retirement home during Thabo Mbeki's reign. The effect would be an Egypt-style revolution as is now happening in neighbouring Malawi.
MDC should be wary of Zuma's and ANC's real intentions of trying to save the face of their "fellow comrade". South Africa's Jacob Zuma is in a very precarious situation right now.
Zuma is fighting for survival as leader of the ANC, which is due to have elections in 2012. As SADC mediator, Zuma's credibility is on the line because of the intransigence of his comrade-in-arms Robert Mugabe, who is stubbornly stalling on implementing the GPA signed 3 years ago at South Africa's instigation.
It is not only the people of Matabeleland and Midlands who want Mugabe to stand trial for human rights abuses, but the rest of the country especially in view of election violence, some of the evidence which is probably contained in the report that President Zuma is withholding despite court orders for its release to the Mail and Guardian newspaper.
The exit plan is probably illegal for an accused person to be shielded from the rule of law because his sympathisers have threatened to stage a military coup. In short, that would be giving in to blackmail. Similarly, nothing would stop Zimbabweans from challenging Mugabe's secret exit plan in a well constituted court of law.
It would also be unfortunate and probably short-sighted for any Zimbabwean politician to enter into private arrangements with a foreign government seeking to frustrate justice for the government and people of Zimbabwe. The plan is potentially divisive of the people of Zimbabwe on tribal lines. That is undesirable.
If South Africa was so concerned about Mugabe's welfare or statesmanship, why did they not take him when he lost presidential elections in 2008? Why wait until he loses another election with the possibility of more abductions, torture and murder?
Zimbabwe's case is different from that of Zambia, because Kenneth Kaunda did not allegedly commit any massacres and atrocities that we know of as is alleged of Robert Mugabe's regime. It is therefore incorrect to equate the two.
The plan is potentially a source of political instability and is an undesirable distraction. The exit plan further plays into the hands of secessionists who will not see any reason to expect justice if Mugabe is protected from prosecution for rights abuses.
Sadly, the government of Zimbabwe which should be trying to heal the wounds of Gukurahundi has been arresting and harassing political leaders, human rights lawyers, activists and journalists from Matabeleland North.
Since January 2011 the following have been arrested, some of them more than once: Moses Mzila Ndlovu, Welshman Ncube, Florence Ndlovu, Walter Dube, Joram Dube, Lizwe Jamela, Nosimilo Chanaiwa, Nikiwe Ncube, Pindai Dube, Pamenus Tuso, Nqobani Ndlovu and Oscar Nkala. As they have not been convicted of any offence, they deserve an apology for the sake of national unity.
The brave remarks of Dominic Muntanga at the burial of his father the late Zapu cadre, Andrew Muntanga at the Heroes Acre on Wednesday 20th July 2011 (The Daily News, Hero's son humiliates Mugabe, 21/07/11) should serve as a reminder to all leaders.
Dominic spoke of how his liberation war hero father was detained and imprisoned by the post-independence government during the Gukurahundi years (1982- 1987). His bitterness should be seen as a reflection of the feelings of the people of Matabeleland and Midlands about the outstanding issue of Gukurahundi. To suggest that the Gukurahundi issue is closed is irresponsible and naive.
Therefore, Mugabe's exit plan is ill-advised, insensitive and probably illegal.
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Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Morgan Tsvangirai should be careful not to be seen to be insensitive to the Gukurahundi genocide especially as people would think all Shona people don't care about the human rights abuses committed against other ethnic groups in the country.
One needs to be very brave to read a full chapter of the Justice and Peace Commission's Report on Gukurahundi unmoved by emotion. Furthermore, reports that surviving mothers who were raped by soldiers are facing problems to obtain birth certificates for their children up to now are very distressing.
It would be grossly insensitive to try and work out a secret immunity plan for Mugabe amidst renewed anger about Gukurahundi genocide. Last year, Genocide Watch called for Mugabe and his army to be prosecuted for the Gukurahundi genocide.
Should Mugabe eventually stand trial and be found guilty for Gukurahundi massacres, it will not be out of revenge but the rule of law, therefore, any interference with the rule of law is bound to be controversial.
It would be ill-advised to alienate voters in Matabeleland North and South and Midlands by giving Mugabe a safe exit to South Africa where he was allegedly bought a retirement home during Thabo Mbeki's reign. The effect would be an Egypt-style revolution as is now happening in neighbouring Malawi.
MDC should be wary of Zuma's and ANC's real intentions of trying to save the face of their "fellow comrade". South Africa's Jacob Zuma is in a very precarious situation right now.
Zuma is fighting for survival as leader of the ANC, which is due to have elections in 2012. As SADC mediator, Zuma's credibility is on the line because of the intransigence of his comrade-in-arms Robert Mugabe, who is stubbornly stalling on implementing the GPA signed 3 years ago at South Africa's instigation.
It is not only the people of Matabeleland and Midlands who want Mugabe to stand trial for human rights abuses, but the rest of the country especially in view of election violence, some of the evidence which is probably contained in the report that President Zuma is withholding despite court orders for its release to the Mail and Guardian newspaper.
The exit plan is probably illegal for an accused person to be shielded from the rule of law because his sympathisers have threatened to stage a military coup. In short, that would be giving in to blackmail. Similarly, nothing would stop Zimbabweans from challenging Mugabe's secret exit plan in a well constituted court of law.
It would also be unfortunate and probably short-sighted for any Zimbabwean politician to enter into private arrangements with a foreign government seeking to frustrate justice for the government and people of Zimbabwe. The plan is potentially divisive of the people of Zimbabwe on tribal lines. That is undesirable.
If South Africa was so concerned about Mugabe's welfare or statesmanship, why did they not take him when he lost presidential elections in 2008? Why wait until he loses another election with the possibility of more abductions, torture and murder?
Zimbabwe's case is different from that of Zambia, because Kenneth Kaunda did not allegedly commit any massacres and atrocities that we know of as is alleged of Robert Mugabe's regime. It is therefore incorrect to equate the two.
The plan is potentially a source of political instability and is an undesirable distraction. The exit plan further plays into the hands of secessionists who will not see any reason to expect justice if Mugabe is protected from prosecution for rights abuses.
Sadly, the government of Zimbabwe which should be trying to heal the wounds of Gukurahundi has been arresting and harassing political leaders, human rights lawyers, activists and journalists from Matabeleland North.
Since January 2011 the following have been arrested, some of them more than once: Moses Mzila Ndlovu, Welshman Ncube, Florence Ndlovu, Walter Dube, Joram Dube, Lizwe Jamela, Nosimilo Chanaiwa, Nikiwe Ncube, Pindai Dube, Pamenus Tuso, Nqobani Ndlovu and Oscar Nkala. As they have not been convicted of any offence, they deserve an apology for the sake of national unity.
The brave remarks of Dominic Muntanga at the burial of his father the late Zapu cadre, Andrew Muntanga at the Heroes Acre on Wednesday 20th July 2011 (The Daily News, Hero's son humiliates Mugabe, 21/07/11) should serve as a reminder to all leaders.
Dominic spoke of how his liberation war hero father was detained and imprisoned by the post-independence government during the Gukurahundi years (1982- 1987). His bitterness should be seen as a reflection of the feelings of the people of Matabeleland and Midlands about the outstanding issue of Gukurahundi. To suggest that the Gukurahundi issue is closed is irresponsible and naive.
Therefore, Mugabe's exit plan is ill-advised, insensitive and probably illegal.
-------------------
Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
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