Editorial Comment

NigerianNews

NigerianNews
Editorial
 

Deep Thought

Deep Thought
NigerianNews Editorial

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The wading of Prof. Soyinka into the ongoing Zimbabwe saga requires a deep thought. Prof Soyinka has advocated in South Africa, that Mugabe should be sanctioned.

Mr Mugabe, like the President of Venezuela has been under the close watch by the West, looking for a way to remove both leaders. It seems to us here that the two leaders, in the Western eyes, are just too independent or evil to be pliable to their needs. Unfortunately, and again without bothering to delve into the merit of the Western argument, the two leaders represent certain interests in their respective countries, which if not taken into consideration, will merely create another conflagration and a conundrum of conflicts in the countries they represent.

It is with this view in mind that we are leery of carrying a non-indigenous flag in a situation where ethnic feelings are much more relevant than what any external voice may carry. The British Government and its allies are doing all they can to remove, in any way possible, Mr Mugabe and his legacy. As we have said in the past, this is simply lack of understanding of ethnic loyalties in Africa. If the current drive succeeds and Mugabe is removed, this will definitely alienate the majority of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. Shona incidentally happens to be the majority ethnic group in Zimbabwe. It seems to us that though the West trumpet the utterances of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, an Ndebele from the Ndebele heartland, and probably applaud Prof Soyinka when he urged Mugabe's sanction, however, the final triumph of this advocacy will merely set Zimbabwe back several years, because those behind Mugabe in Zimbabwe are veterans of the Zimbabwe guerilla triumph over Ian Smith in the old Rhodesia. They definitely will feel well at home in the bush in the new role forced on them through lack of patience, and the desire not to play by the democratic rules which work so well in Britain and the USA. Removing Mugabe as is being worked on now will mean removing Shona majority from a seat of power and perhaps getting an admixture of Shona/Ndebele/White minority government. Our opinion is that this will fail and bush war will ensue which may last for many years.

It is naive to attribute Mugabe's wins in election solely to rigging. The way it works in Africa is that electorates vote for people from their ethnic group, and this is African-wide. As long as Shona remains the majority ethnic group, we do not see the feasibility of MDC winning, with their concentration in the cities.

What is the alternative to the hatred of Mugabe? Time is the only rescuer of the people of Zimbabwe if indeed they need to be rescued. Mugabe is an old man, and he has indicated he is on his last lap in the presidency. It seems to us therefore that Prof. Soyinka and other people who want Mugabe sanctioned or out should start making plans to get sufficient Shona electorate to reject Mugabe's candidate for the presidency in the next election. As long as the constitution of Zimbabwe does not stipulate a term limit, it seems odd to us that the same constitution will be encumbered by styling Mugabe a sit-tight president who should step aside. On the other hand, Mugabe has indicated a lack of desire to run for the presidency again.

If the West and its supporters desire peace for Zimbabwe by not creating another Iraq there, they should do everything to strengthen and not hamper the existing constitution.

What has Mugabe done this time that warrants the call for sanction? He has ordered shanty towns removed, howbeit in his opponent's city base where these shanty towns are located. Is this any different from what the Nigeria FCT minister El Rufai did to the shanty areas of Abuja? Has the same West not talked in the past of these slums as not worthy of habitation by human beings? Was the shanty areas allowed when Ian Smith was in power? Will it be allowed in London or Washington? We happen to like what El Rufai is doing in Abuja and we believe he should continue until the original plan for Abuja is restored. The question then remains, were those forcibly removed in Abuja not equally hurt as the people displayed in Zimbabwe? We understand the British pride was hurt by an ordinary African like Mugabe, but is it not better to light the candle than curse the darkness? Will the result of the current effort by Britain and those who support her not lead to more darkness? Think about that.

The principle of eminent domain in the United States, though made legal by the Supreme Court affects mostly helpless people than the rich one who benefit from it. Has Prof. Soyinka looked into the principle behind Eminent Domain law in the USA? Has he also looked into the law in Zimbabwe to see which of the laws Mugabe trespassed? How can we fault Prof Soyinka, a Noble Laureate with so many enviable accomplishments.

It is suicidal for any leader of any small country to antagonize the West. It is our opinion that those who go against the West will not last. Some people from these countries will actually participate in hasting the "recalcitrant" leaders' demise. However, the repercussion is never what the West considers until disaster strikes. Idi Amin was an abomination to most Africans, but was brought in by the West thinking he would be a man they could do business with. He proved them wrong, and until the entry of Museveni, Uganda never had peace.

Our hope is that the West would work the Zimbabwe political line as they do in the West. Let everything occur according to the will of the people. Contriving the will of the people may remove leadership, but can also plunge the country to so many years of upheaval. We cannot believe the West cannot work with a viable Shona candidate of their choice who can genuinely beat Mugabe's candidate for the presidency in the next election. Although this may tantamount to injecting themselves into the internal affairs of Zimbabwe, but this is more tolerable than the spectacle which may result from actions being tele-guided from abroad right now.

Meanwhile, we commend the stands currently taken by the President of South Africa, Mr Mbeki, and the other Southern African countries. We believe these leaders understand Africa best, and being from Southern Africa, understand the situation better than Prof Soyinka.

The African leaders who are reluctant to criticize Mugabe are doing so because of their better understanding of ethnic place in African politics. If the West really feel there is a need to remove Mugabe, they should work with the African leaders, may be they then can learn something.

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"Our hope is that the West would work the Zimbabwe political line as they do in the West. Let everything occur according to the will of the people. Contriving the will of the people may remove leadership, but can also plunge the country to so many years of upheaval. We cannot believe the West cannot work with a viable Shona candidate of their choice who can genuinely beat Mugabe's candidate for the presidency in the next election. Although this may tantamount to injecting themselves into the internal affairs of Zimbabwe, but this is more tolerable than the spectacle which may result from actions being tele-guided from abroad right now.

Meanwhile, we commend the stands currently taken by the President of South Africa, Mr Mbeki, and the other Southern African countries. We believe these leaders understand Africa best, and being from Southern Africa, understand the situation better than Prof Soyinka."