Mugabe actions warning signs of genocide
Rev Kenneth Meshoe, MP

The attempt by Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe to smooth over the inexcusable damage he has inflicted on the people of Zimbabwe has not gone unnoticed by the ACDP.

By attempting to pass off ‘Operation Restore Order’ as a “positive” and constructive mission, he not only lies to Zimbabweans but shows his arrogance in branding himself as a saviour of a nation in turmoil.

His arrogance is further fuelled by the fact that both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) have failed to act strongly in this regard. We believe that President Thabo Mbeki has also long exceeded his capacity to excuse not acting on a matter that will destabilise the entire Southern region of Africa.

It is an insult to the intelligence of the Zimbabwean people to say that they must look at ‘Operation Restore Order’ as bringing “joy” because 2 million houses will be built by 2010. We all know that this is an impossible target to reach in that time frame.

The fact that the ANC government, within a stable South African economy, has failed to reach their target of building 1million houses in five years shows that Mugabe is dreaming if he wants to build double that amount in the same time-frame within an economy that he has destroyed.

The ACDP is certain that the people of Zimbabwe are aware that Mugabe is trying to pull the wool over their eyes so that he can make them completely dependent on his will. This is why we applaud the efforts of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and other religious institutions and NGO’s that have - since the beginning of the struggle in Zimbabwe – worked tirelessly to bring stability and mobilise Zimbabweans and other African states to turn this situation around.

We call on Mugabe to stop adding salt to the wounds of the people of Zimbabwe, particularly those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.

If Mugabe’s inhumane actions are not stopped, it will lead to genocide. These early warning signs must not be ignored by SADC, the AU and other world leaders, as this will be a repetition of what happened in Rwanda when action was taken too late. Do we need to have another Rwanda on our hands before we act?

It is hypocritical for President Mbeki to believe that the problems in Zimbabwe must be dealt with internally, we know from the South African experience, that had our neighbours and the rest of the world adopted this attitude, we would not have witnessed a new democracy.