SA promise hard diplomacy against Zanu PF – sweet music after decades of sell-out diplomacy W Mukori

 

Action SA promises “hard” diplomacy against Zanu PF to end the crisis in Zimbabwe.

“My fellow South Africans across our border. For years our government have watched whilst Zanu PF destroyed the country once capable of feeding much of Southern Africa. This crisis affects our country deeply,” said Herman Mashaba. He is the former Mayor of Johannesburg and leader of the political party Action SA.

“It is now time for a new approach. It is time for hard diplomacy. We must adopt the strongest and harshest policies against an oppressive government and not punish the people of Zimbabwe.

“This should start by freezing the assets of Zanu PF leaders in South Africa and banning them from entering our country!”

This is sweet music to every thinking Zimbabwean out there. There is no denying that South Africa’s ruling ANC governing party’s “quite diplomacy” of 1994 to 2013 followed by the “sell-out” policy, for that is exactly what it is, thereafter, have helped Zanu PF stay in power at the expense of the ordinary Zimbabweans.

Ever since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, Zanu PF rigged the elections denying the people their basic freedoms and rights including the right to free and fair elections - most fundament right and prerequisite of good governance. The AU and Sadc have turned a blind eye and endorsed the rigged elections as “substantially free and fair” giving Zanu PF political legitimacy.

Only once, in 2008 after Zanu PF had blatantly cheated and used wanton violence did Sadc and AU refuse to endorse Zanu PF’s rigged elections. Sadc, pressured Zanu PF to agree to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) which was then tasked to implement the democratic reforms and restore the rule of law and good governance.

Sadly, the MDC led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai failed to implement even one token reform in five years of the GNU. Sadc leaders, notably South Africa’s Minister Lindiwe Zulu, representing Sadc who were the guarantor of the GNU, did their best to remind MDC to implement the reforms but were ignored.

In a last-minute bid to get the reforms implemented, Sadc leaders literally begged MDC leaders not to participate in the 2013 Zimbabwe elections without first implementing the reforms. “If you participate in the elections next month, you will lose. The elections are done!” they warned.

Yet again, Tsvangirai and company ignored the warning and participated in the elections. As expected, Zanu PF blatantly rigged the election. And, in a shocking and shameless volte-face, Sadc endorsed the elections as “substantially free and fair” which they had condemned as “done” (rigged) only the previous month.

The political consequences of Sadc endorsing the Zanu PF rigged elections is giving the regime legitimacy and thus perpetuating the dictatorship. Zimbabwe has been stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for 42 years and counting with the tragic political economic and social consequences there for all to see.

Zanu PF misrule has pushed Zimbabwe to the very edge of the precipitous abyss. Another rigged election and another term of this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship might well push the nation over the edge. There is a real danger that Zimbabwe will drag many other nations down the abyss with her!

Without even one token reform implement since the rigged 2013 and 2018 elections, it is already clear that Zanu PF is blatantly rigging the 2023 elections. What everyone is waiting to see is whether Sadc will pursue their sell-out policy of endorsing rigged elections and give Zanu PF legitimacy, especially South Africa, Botswana and Zambia who have a history of holding free and fair elections themselves; and thus by the hand giving Zimbabwe the final push over the edge!

There is no denying that Sadc’s sell-out policy of endorsement Zanu PF rigged elections has been at the heart of the regime’s contemptuous disregard of the people’s democratic wish for good governance. It is the ordinary Zimbabweans who have paid dearly for this folly. It is time to stop the sell-out. It is time for hardnosed diplomacy!