Zim Crisis A Collective Responsibility
By Wellington Chibanguza

THE resolution to the Zimbabwean issue has always been reliant on a collective effort between Zimbabweans and the region “SADC”.

Given the recent political and economic upheaval fuelled by ZANU (PF) cocktail of African culture and Politics. Comprising a deadly mixture of ingredients elitism, brutality, individualism, superiority complexes and corruption.

One is to question the regions reluctance in pushing for a resolution to the Zimbabwean crisis. But forced to highlight a catalogue of missed opportunities to address the issue head on.

At the recent SADC Summit held in Maseru, Lesotho, the chairman, Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, said, "The situation in that country is of concern. We have been engaged with the leadership of Zimbabwe on how best we can recover the economic viability of that country. (But) there has been progress," Please note the key word here being progress.

Signalling that the regions attitude is still one being played on the colonial card by Mugabe. Intern the supposed illegal travel sanctions by the international community are crippling the economy right? Hence the regions heads of states position on Zimbabwean crisis is stagnant, with astonishing support for Mugabe’s, outstanding record of the struggle against colonialism and minority settler rule.

It’s somehow the norm amongst the African leaders not to acknowledge the Zim crisis as one of bad governance by one true liberation hero. Due to Looming fears of being labelled puppets of the west, resulting in them forming a legion of support for Mugabe.
Referring back to the questions of reluctance, one is quick to point out SADC’s flaunting of the regions economic, social and political growth. Undoubtedly some of the SADC’s member states have be lavishing in economic growth at the expense of Zimbabwe’s migrant skilled and labour workforce not mentioning the vital investment organs that flooded the region from Zimbabwe.

Is SADC’s solidarity with the regime out of fear of Mugabe or is it systematic exploitation of Zimbabwe’s economic and political meltdown. “African to African slavery“ With Zimbabwe’s highly educated and skilled population at grabs, the regions reluctance can be justified as “progress” in the words of Mr Pakalitha Mosisili.

As for SADC’s prosperity of democracy within the region, it’s high time the Political tide turns on the Mugabe regime. There is a need of transparency and immediate shift from the “quite diplomacy” with Zimbabwe, despite of September the 13th brutal attacks by police and Youth militia on leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions after their attempt to petition government on the plight of workers, the region maintained a code of silence.

The Mugabe regime is in clear breach of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights by intimidating and assaulting and not respecting the basic fundamental freedoms of its citizens. This should call on the African Union and SADC to condone such Gross Human rights violations and adopt an attitude that recognizes the suffering being incurred by millions of Zimbabweans and the negative impact this has on the region.

The big question being how can we as Africans move forward economically, socially, political and most important as a people, if we cant uproot the evil unjust being done to our own people. But it’s important that SADC uses its influence on the ever-isolated Mugabe regime to push forward a long overdue political resolution that has the plight of Zimbabweans at heart.

Zimbabwean crisis is collective responsibility between Zimbabweans and the region. Like how the region played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle “Chimurenga”, South Africa’s Apartheid and the civil war in Mozambique.

Drawing to the general consensuses shared amongst most young Zimbabweans, that 'Our independence is meaningless unless we can be totally liberally and exercise our civil rights‘. And the denial of good governance is a shamefully mockery to all those who died in the struggle for a Free and Democratic Africa.

Wellington Chibanguza is a founding member of Free-Zim Youth, UK
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that together as a people we are way powerful beyond measure and our presents will automatically liberate our people” Free-Zim”