Photo by openDemocracy
The President of Botswana has broken ranks with most of his African colleagues, and called Robert Mugabe’s so-called re-election to the presidency of Zimbabwe what it is: a farce.
“Botswana does not accept the result of the June 27 run-off election in Zimbabwe, as it violated the core principles of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations,” a Foreign Ministry statement read.
But President Seretse Khama Ian Khama went even further; according to the statement, he will be boycotting this weekend’s summit with Mugabe and the other southern African leaders.
It’s a crucial move, and one that I hope will encourage other southern African leaders (I’m talking to you, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma!) to speak out as well.
As I wrote in this Matador article last fall, much of the African leadership has been reluctant to criticize Mugabe openly – and their silence allows the Zimbabwean dictator to dismiss Western criticisms of his regime as mere neo-colonialism.
So thank you, Botswana! Let’s hope this is a positive sign for the future. Those sorts of signs have been all too rare in the Zimbabwean story of late.
About the Author
More By This Author
- Sunshine Guaranteed - Or Your Money Back (8 comments)
- New Paid Travel Writing Opportunities from BootsnAll (2 comments)
- You Don't Need a Mumbai Slum Tour to See Wealth Disparity at Work (2 comments)
Related Posts
4 Comments... join the discussion!
-
-
You're right, it's absolutely about time. A girl from work is actually about to go home to Zimbabwe to be with her family, and I'm worried about her safety. This thuggish mafia needs to be put in jail – instead they're destroying a country which used to be called the 'bread-basked of Africa'. And the continent's leaders have silently stood by…
↵ -
Hi Eva .. it looks like a good site .. I must come back and take an interest in your blog .. where are you now ..have you left north America? What's your connection with southern Africa .. all the best Hilary
↵ -
Hi Hilary, Thanks for stopping by! And I hope you will come back again! I'm still in North America these days, though hoping to get overseas again soon. As for my connection with Southern Africa – I haven't actually made it there yet, but I've been nursing a fascination with the area for several years. I was lucky to have a fantastic African history professor in undergrad who had taught high school in Lesotho for several years, and who had taught university courses at Wits as well. He got me hooked. Plus, as a rugby fan I always cheer for the Springboks!
What about you?
↵
