Mugabe's journey, thorniest and most difficult outside the biblical narrative

QUITE possibly, President Robert Mugabe's journey has been the thorniest and most difficult ever to be encountered by an individual outside the biblical narrative. All told, it's been an extremely daunting and highly sacrificial voyage. Yet he has emerged triumphant ' rising above all challenges and defying even the toughest of odds.

Not the least attractive aspect of his presidency has been his consistency, his ability to stick to principle, steadfast in word and in deed. In that regard, he has not just surpassed expectations; he has outshined all leaders, dead and alive, including Barack Obama and, probably even, Nelson Mandela.

Of course he's made a few missteps along the way. But haven't we all? It's a bit unfair to judge him by the same standard as Mother Theresa or Saint Peter.

For all his flaws, Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa, a very low infant mortality pace, peace and quiet amongst its virtues, countless opposition parties and arguably the highest number of privately-owned so-called independent newspapers in Africa after South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Botswana. It's too long a list for any leader let alone one accused of dictatorship.

But perhaps the hallmark of his presidency has been his unparalleled desire for total liberty, his entwined aspiration for political and economic freedom. Through the land reform programme and now the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive, he has highlighted his resolve and ability not just to talk tough, but to act tough ' a rare mixture of candor, audacity and commitment.

Certainly, he has been a politician to admire and a man to respect and only fools will think there is another Mugabe waiting in every corner of every village and every street of every town.

Whereas Morgan Tsvangirai's alleged charisma is circumstantial and so temporary, Robert Mugabe's is intrinsic ' he was conceived as a leader, born as a leader and grew up as a leader. Accordingly, he has an enduring charm and an unmistakable uniqueness. A bit like Nelson Mandela, there is something inherently irreplaceable about him.

It is this rareness, the fact that leaders of his aptitude are few and far between, that has caused Zimbabweans to disregard his mostly inconsequential mistakes in favour of his considerable accomplishments. In doing so, they have looked at his record and allowed the facts to speak for themselves.

Little wonder then that Zimbabweans have greeted western propaganda on President Mugabe with scornful apathy.

It explains, too, why, even in 2008 when he was widely tipped to lose to Morgan Tsvangirai, the people of this country still gave him the benefit of the doubt ' causing a run-off in what ought to have been an easy victory for Tsvangirai.

That was a statement of hope wasn't it, a show of belief in President Mugabe and a sign that many were not quite convinced that the turmoil obtaining in the country at the time was entirely of his making, if at all.

Indeed it also explains why Zimbabwe has not experienced the sort of revolutions encountered in Egypt and Tunisia. The notion that it is because Zimbabweans are afraid to rise against President Mugabe is a lie, one peddled most assiduously by people ignorant of the fact that Zimbabwe's was the most excruciating of all the struggles fought in Africa. Liberation struggles are not won by pussycats.

Certainly, and this is very important, it also explains why Zimbabweans simply do not buy the falsehood that the sanctions imposed on this country are merely targeted or that they are as a result of human rights abuses.

Zimbabwe is under sanctions today because of its land reform exercise and that's the end of the matter. The rest is hot air.

While it cannot possibly be denied that there are human rights abuses here, the fact is that they are not such as to warrant the imposition of sanctions, otherwise the entire world would be under sanctions of sorts.

For example, Barack Obama has yet to shut down Guantanamo Bay – a torture camp that accounts for some of the most barbaric cases of torture, cruelty and inhuman treatment since World War 2. It's a sad irony.

Surely it cannot be right that when powerful nations violate human rights willy-nilly and on such grand scales they are left untouched but when milder cases of breaches are reported in Africa we are invariably encumbered with sanctions or our leaders are taken to The Hague.

In 2003 the world watched helplessly as Tony Blair and George W. Bush killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis in an illegal war. Yet people appear endlessly obsessed with Gukurahundi? At least President Mugabe has expressed regret at the unnecessary loss of life. It's not quite enough but it's a step in the right direction.

On the other hand, however, Tony Blair has been barely remorseful about his monstrosity. Bragging about it, he is on record as saying if he could, he would do it again. But guess who gets a tap on the back at the end of it all? Tony Blair! And guess who gets branded as one of the worst perpetrators of crimes against humanity? Robert Mugabe! Where is the justice in this world? Is the battle against racism over?

In the circumstances, it can safely be argued that the sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe are as self-serving as they are inconsistent and they must to go.

The international community needs to urgently review them by paying particular attention to their legality and the effect they have had on the dignity of our people.

While that happens, Zimbabweans ought to continue rallying behind President Mugabe (Zimbabwe's proudest and most valued asset) giving him all the necessary backing that he requires.

For a man who has spent virtually all his life fighting for freedom and defending our country's independence and sovereignty, giving him our unstinting endorsement is not just the right thing to do; it is the least we can do.

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Psychology Maziwisa is a Zimbabwean political commentator and analyst. He is currently working as a political and legal advisor in the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment