A Hymn for Zimbabwe

There hasn't been enough coverage in the news and on blogs about what is going on right now, as I write this, in Zimbabwe. Suffice it to say that some of the most egregious assaults to human rights, political rights and principles of civil society and democracy are occurring there on a daily basis.

The story of the day today is that the brave opposition (MDC) candidate Morgan Tsvangirai is withdrawing from the run-off election on June 27th because it would not be free or fair. This may be one of the great understatements of the year, let alone the week. Robert Mugabe and his thugs have so violated every principle of democratic elections and civil rights through terror, election rigging, intimidation, murder, torture, rape and withdrawal of aid for the starving citizens of Zimbabwe that it would be hard to argue that any government except that of Myanmar has behaved as badly towards its citizens. The organization Genocide Watch issued a statement last week identifying the action of the ruling ZANU-PF party, their militias, the army and police as Stage 6 - the Preparation Stage immediately preceding political mass murder.

On Thursday I received a list of all the opposition supporters who have been murdered for their beliefs over the last 7 weeks. Here's entry number 68:

Dadirayi Chipiro in Mhondoro on Sunday, June 08, 2008

A Zanu PF gang came to her home looking for her husband Chipiro who is an MDC activist and chairperson of the area. When they did not find him they started beating her then chopped off her hand and both feet, they threw her into her hut and threw a petrol bomb into the hut setting it on fire. She was burnt to death.

At the website of The Kubatana Trust of Zimbabwe you can see images and read descriptions of what the people of Zimbabwe are enduring as they attempt to fight tyranny with advocacy and action. Be warned the images are brutal.

The Kubatana Trust and thier partners deserve far broader support than they are receiving.

Every threat to civil society anywhere in the world should be considered a threat to you and me and our common humanity.

We all need to wake up and get involved. The Huffington Post can give this story more coverage, the Bush administration should put pressure on South Africa and other African nations to intervene, the United Nations Security Council should take action and the rest of us should support organizations that are trying to help ensure democracy finds its way back into Zimbabwe, once a great African nation.

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Comments

[Brillig]

I agree with the leader of the Opposition stepping down. At a recent African Leaders conference, the cowardly "leaders" did not find it necessary to chastize Mugabe for his behavior. Why the hell should anyone except Africans be involved in this mess? It is of their making and theirs to clean up.

Those of us sold into slavery may not be able to get reparation, but we sure are seeing retribution!

[oldpotsmuggler]

It seems like it would embarass the hell out of Mugabe for candidate Obama to give a speech to the world expressing his contempt for anyone so cowardly as to be afarid of the outcome of a fair election.

Can you think of a better way to signal his interest in a new relationship between Americans and Africans? Does anyone believe that there is even a chance of something like this happening?

[thisoldbroad]

Can someone please explain to me why only the US & Europe are vocal about this leader & his attacks?
Does the rest of the African region have any sway over Mugabe?
Does the rest of the African region see this treatment of the people as acceptable?
Why doesn't China step up? Russia? How can this be to their advantage to remain silent?

[outnow]

The answer may lie in colonialism. The interference with the election by outside powers for privatizing resources may be the answer. Until we have fair and free elections and until the British finally give up their colonial ways, the rest of the world understands that privatization of resources may be the major motive for the British and the Americans. If we cleaned up our own act, we would have the moral high ground and what a day that would be. But so long as your hand is in the cookie jar, then you do not have that moral high ground. The world opinion is very low in terms of British intentions to their former colony. Africa is for Africans.