As predicted here several weeks ago, Mugabe will not give up power so easily. It is wrong, too, to personalise the issue around one person - as so often is done in the Western press. The people in the structure that surrounds Mugabe will not give up their power. Mugabe is the figure head but he may be replaced if he shows any weakness. Who are the power behind the throne? Dont look far beyond the military, political apparatchiks, money launderers and the new wealthy black land owners.
To think that the world believe that a meeting in Zambia of the Southern African nations grouped under SADC would bring Mugabe to his 'senses' totally misunderstands how liberation struggles turn into dictatorships - the history of most of Africa.
Mugabe and his cronies will continue playing the election issue. They wont bother to stuff election boxes in a recount....the result of the recount will be enough. The boxes themselves will be nowhere to be found.
And what of the poor in Zimbabwe and the desperate migrants who have flown Zimbabwe - some 1.5 million according to my calculations - continual impoverishment and misery. The world will sit by and turn its attention to other crises.
And Susan? I have not heard from her, I hope she survived but I am not optimistic.
And Tracey? I paid $500 to an NGO to help be freed from prison and returned to Zimbabwe - she was the only breadwinner for her children and sick mother - and had entered Botswana to find some work. She was arrested on a misdemeanor, was suffering from HIV/AIDS and was not allowed treatment in prison being an illegal migrant. I just received this message: Tracey unfortunately passed away a few days after being transported from here to Zimbabwe. She was already semi-conscious and was subsequently discovered to have also contracted malaria. I have only now had the time to get in touch as we have been involved in our annual human rights film festival which is rather time-consuming. Our colleague will be preparing a report for use to send to you about the matter. We are planning to take the matter further by approaching the Government to ask them to re-consider their policy concerning no free treatment for foreigners … to taking responsibility for at least prisoners and refugees .. as a start.
The photo above is of Bishop Paul Verryn (taken in his chaotic office by myself in December 2007), who has turned the Methodist Cathedral in the centre of Johannesburg into a reception and assistance Centre for Zimbabwean migrants. There are around 2000 migrants in his church. He helps Zimbabweans obtain papers to stay in South Africa, looks after their health and gives them some food and a place to sleep. His reward? To be raided by South African police in the early hours of the morning some weeks ago. He is my CSR man of the year!
