PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s decision to cling onto power despite his advanced age and his country’s waning fortunes has stretched his Sadc counterparts’ patience to the limit, analysts have said.
Source: Sadc fed up with Mugabe – NewsDay Zimbabwe September 29, 2016
Richard Chidza/The Namibian
Mugabe was last week was left seething in anger after Botswana leader, Ian Khama described him as a liability to the region and urged him to step down.
According to The Namibian newspaper, President Hage Geingob has expressed similar sentiments.
Responding to a question on Namibian policy on Zimbabwe last week during a speech at Columbia University in the United States, Geingob said Zimbabweans, who are unhappy with Mugabe should fight for themselves. He, however, said the international community would not fold its hands, as the Zanu PF leader brutalises citizens.
“Because we don’t go out in public and shout, so that you can be happy and dance in the streets of New York? We have an African way of doing things. I cannot say things to please somebody else, and say I condemn Mugabe.
“We are sovereign countries,” he said, arguing Khama’s public rebuke of the veteran leader was the Botswana leader’s own way of doing things.
While arguing the Zimbabwean problem was a domestic issue, Geingob warned the world would not sit and watch while citizens’ rights are violated.
“We must know that killing our people is not the way to go. If you do that, you can’t expect the world to respect you. They will intervene and tell you that you are doing a wrong thing.
“We must get rid of the days where we believed in strong presidents, personality cults, and that some are (demi)-gods,” he said.
Political analyst, Pedzisai Ruhanya said there were now indications of exasperation with Mugabe by regional leaders.
“There seems to have been secret diplomatic manoeuvres to talk Mugabe into retirement. However, he seems to have rebuffed the advice, hence, the public show of impatience. Especially for Namibia, it’s a real break with tradition because it has never been known to make any comments on Mugabe’s leadership or anything remotely connected to it,” he said.
“The Zimbabwean authorities and Mugabe must understand that they cannot change the course of nature that Mugabe’s physical and mental mortality cannot sustainably lead Zimbabwe and maintain the country’s socio-economic and political interests.”
Mugabe is accused of rights abuses that have earned him targeted sanctions from both the US and European Union, with the latter having relaxed the measures slightly.
Pretoria University lecturer and political commentator, Ricky Mukonza said Mugabe had lost the respect of his younger peers in the region.
“Recent comments coming from Botswana and lately Namibia suggest that some of the Sadc leaders are coming out of their shells to say the right things concerning Mugabe’s continued stay in power. These countries have every right to make such pronouncements because, since the turn of the century, they have borne the brunt of Zimbabwe’s socioe-conomic crisis,” he said.
COMMENTS
That’s why young ones are saying Mugabe is too anxiety for this new generation Leaders in Africa know what is right or wrong but to keep their silence because of unfounded African values is ridiculous All these presidents I am sure their children are schooled I the modern way To remain silent when there is clear brutality against people of Zimbabwe is wrong -on humatarian reasons How far do you want the senseless brutality torture and poisoning to go on Until 99% of Zimbabweans are killed or maimed Yes we Zimbabweans we are doing our part to protest democratically non violence and yet we still get abuse which you cant even subject a snake from Mugabe regime Surely even at the SADC summits you can bring up the inhuman brutality and question Mugabe what is going on I think by remaining silent you leaders of other African countries shows you don’t value your neighbouring citizens who will continue to seek refugee in your countries So better intervene now Why do we have to wait for the West to intervene Why did you form SADC and AU if you don’t openly advise each other The west don’t care They are probably cheering that let these Africans kill each other They don’t care After all they get cheap labourers in their countries We cant in the west and in our own country EU will openly chastisise other leader for little things which don’t even involve torture or murder but African leaders are still in the dark ages Afraid to voice I salute Khama he is leaving in the real world I am glad to have dedicated 10 years in Botswana caring for BaTswanas (legally) Then darkness dawns here at home because of our stupidity for allowing that cruel man who is worse than Hitler Amin Kadhafi and all the dictators Mugabe enjoys the power which he exudes Anyway African Leaders please support uc we are dealing with EVIL we cant do it alone
it is about time that this hapened
Hastings “Kamuzu” Banda – Kamuzu is a tap root that is very difficult to oust.
Robert “Barnacle” Mugabe – Barnacle shells cling on to rocks long after the creature’s death.
SADC needs to be reorganised The organisation gives the Chair to corrupt dictators who do not care for their people .
The Tribunal was removed without the consent of the ordinary citizens
Civil Society a and human rights organisations in the region need to be given a voice in SADC