SADC trips, falls in Lesotho

Mmegi Editor | Wednesday September 3, 2014 15:40

We noted that the organisation had departed from the nobility of its yesteryear national liberation and anti-apartheid objectives and had instead become obsessed with non-critical back-patting and high-fiving among its political elites. Meanwhile the progression of economic, developmental and human aspirations lie unsatisfied, while several leaders continue to molest their citizens either through violence, the denial of democracy or the befoulment of the economy.

Our words are tragically being vindicated in Lesotho where, rather than deploy the peacekeepers Basotho are crying for, SADC has opted to “deploy” a strongly worded statement of condemnation! While as an editorial publication, we principally believe that the pen is mightier than the sword, SADC’s response again betrays the kind of droopiness that has emboldened and fostered democratic crises in Zimbabwe and Swaziland.  What is needed right now in Lesotho is a combination of the pen and the sword or what legendary US president, Theodore Roosevelt, aptly described as “speaking softly and carrying a big stick”.

With gunshots ringing out in Maseru overnight, police stations shut down, the army chief narrowly escaping assassination and government at a standstill, SADC’s statement is obscenely insufficient and an insult to both Basotho and other regional citizens. As Africans, we have laboured for centuries under the global stereotype that we are unable to solve the challenges on our continent. Outsiders, it has been said, will always be required to help the African and protect him from himself.

This was part of the reasoning behind the Scramble for Africa and it continues to fuel neo-imperialism, the proliferation of mercenaries on our continent and to some extent the continuation of strife, poverty, and under-development.

SADC vindicates that view through its inaction by showing the whole world that even in 2014, we are unable to tackle our own problems, even in a small country like Lesotho. The United Nations’ predecessor, the League of Nations was criticised as being effective only when the conflict was inconsequential. Former Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini is famous for arguing that: “the League is very well when sparrows shout, but no good at all when eagles fall out.”

Our case is more dire. SADC is no good when sparrows shout and equally so when eagles fall out.More obviously needs to be done in helping our brothers in Lesotho and that “more” needs to be done now.

                                                                 Today’s thought

                                “Help your brother’s boat across, and your own will reach the shore.”

 

                                                                 - Hindu Proverb