Ex-President of Tanzania defends Zimbabwe's Mugabe

In defence of President Mugabe
BY BENJAMIN MKAPA, former President of Tanzania

Tanzania has many friends. But like in friendships between human beings, countries must agree on everything, and draw boundaries for their comradeship.

Most of the friendly states also double up as development partners of Tanzania.

They will however be upset by the fact that unlike many people, I will not censure the Zimbabwean government over alleged human rights abuses and a diminishing democratic space.

My take is that we have reached a point where, like good friends, we have agreed to disagree on Zimbabwe. And I am glad that they have not insisted on choosing friends for us. For where solidarity with Zimbabwe is concerned, we embrace the Shona proverb: "If you are at peace, so am I, but if you are in trouble so am I."

In Tanzania, Zimbabwe is more than a friend. We are brothers and comrades in the struggle for justice and freedom, for human rights and democracy. This may come as a surprise to those who have been gullible to the international media, which run stories and editorials demonising Comrade Mugabe.

But there is no gainsaying Comrade Mugabe’s outstanding record of struggle against colonialism and minority settler rule. No amount of mudslinging can erase that record, a record of sacrifice and struggle for the right to have the vote; years in prison to demand the most fundamental political and social rights while previous governments of those who censure him today were socialising with the people who put him in incarceration. They may have forgotten this, as they have conveniently forgotten that the best lands in Zimbabwe and in a few other African countries were forcibly taken away from black people, who were then killed or chased away like dogs from their ancestral lands to make way for white people. They may have forgotten; we have not forgotten.

They may have forgotten that the Chimurenga was not only about political power and independence; it was also very much a demand for land restitution. How then could one expect Comrade Mugabe to leave office before resolving this unfinished business?

They may have forgotten the proceedings and decisions made at Lancaster House. Tanzania has not forgotten. How could we forget while we pleaded with Comrade Mugabe to hold back for a while the conditionality of immediate land redistribution?

Governments are managed by human beings; not angels. They are not infallible. It is not surprising, therefore, to find something to fault in all governments of the world, including those in the richest countries and oldest democracies. For all the things that the Government of Zimbabwe is accused of, there are similar cases in Africa and beyond. Why should the typhoons in the Caribbean and the Southern United States, or the Asian Tsunami, or the Earthquake in Pakistan be recognised for what they are, namely, natural calamities, but not the droughts in Southern Africa, and especially in Zimbabwe?

I, therefore, easily come to the conclusion that all of Zimbabwe’s alleged sins would have been forgiven or ignored if Comrade Mugabe had not touched land. Zimbabwe is more sinned against than sinning. Many people in other African countries are closely watching the land redistribution programme in Zimbabwe. For, this is not an agenda for Zimbabwean people only; many people in this region remain aggrieved by unresolved historical injustices, and long-term stability in the region depends critically on their redress. For too long, Africa has endured lectures on practically everything - from politics to economics to human rights. The time has come for Africa to reassert itself and recover its dignity. We have to take charge of our own destiny, and to make mistakes of our own if need be. But we really should not be tutored and chaperoned much further through century!!

A new leadership is emerging in Africa that cannot accept tutelary relationships with our erstwhile colonisers. A new leadership which would rather listen to its elders, such as Comrade Mugabe, thus being faithful to the counsel of the African saying: "The one who listens to the voice of the elderly is strong like a tree; the one who turns a deaf ear is like a twig in the wind."

Developed countries keep on asking us to do more for ourselves on the economic front and to own our programmes. We agree. But we demand also the same right to ownership when it comes to political programmes, within the confines of internationally accepted yardsticks of democracy and good governance. How come, for instance, that the opinion of SADC or African electoral observers is ignored if it conflicts with that of observers from rich countries? Does it mean that only observers from rich countries can objectively see what is happening during our elections; that only their opinion counts? That attitude is too condescending for us to bear.

But we can only successfully reassert our rights to take charge of our own affairs if we stand together, not against each other.

Tanzania will stand by Zimbabwe. There are those who thought they could change the course of events in Zimbabwe by adopting high handed tactics and sanctions. Their pressure has failed to yield fruit and they have now run out of ideas, except the stridence of the media. They have burnt the bridges of communication, but we will not fall into their trap.

We need to build the capacity of our intellectuals to be able to advocate and agitate for a fairer and more equitable globalization process. As for our bilateral cooperation, the potential is very great. We only need to be innovative and enterprising. The private sector of the two countries should wake up and ensure that our local markets are optimally exploited before opting for other markets abroad. We should also ensure that we share whatever resources are available in our countries to ensure that our economies benefit. Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere used to tout the folksy dictum: "Courage is among men." Today I am sure he would add "among women."! The point is that solidarity reinforces political, economic social and moral advantage. Our people should continue to nourish this togetherness.

May God Bless Zimbabwe. May God Bless Africa.