That's The Way To Go

Editor | Monday July 7, 2008 00:00

Skelemani categorically stated that Botswana does not recognise Robert Mugabe's presidency because he ascended to the highest office in the land illegally. Botswana went further and called upon other members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) not to allow Zimbabwe to participate in the SADC meetings.

If all SADC states adopt the same stance it will force the Mugabe regime to think twice and negotiate with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in good faith. Mugabe needs to be put under intense pressure.

However, economic sanctions are not a solution at this stage. Already the multitudes of Zimbabweans are suffering and if further sanctions are imposed they will only add more misery to their already troubled lives. Sanctions never hurt those that they are intended for. Like Skelemani said Mugabe and his henchmen will continue to live lavishly as they are doing right now.

At least there is some movement in as far as trying to resolve the stalemate in Zimbabwe is concerned. It is now up to the other countries to follow Botswana's example and denounce Mugabe's presidency and suspend Harare from SADC until the problem in that country is resolved. We believe that Botswana is being honest by adopting a tougher position on Zimbabwe. We agree with Skelemani that SADC must take the lead in helping resolve the impasse in Zimbabwe. We also believe that at last it has dawned on Botswana and other countries that quiet diplomacy does not work. It has been tried in Zimbabwe and it has failed lamentably. South African President Thabo Mbeki in his quiet diplomacy approach, declared that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe just before an impromptu meeting held in Lusaka following the fleeing of MDC leader Tsvangirai to Botswana. Many people then thought Mbeki was simply skirting the issue because the entire world could see that there was - and there still is - a crisis of titanic proportions in Zimbabwe. Had SADC intervened much earlier, we could probably not be where we are today. A solution could have long been found. Mugabe, the liberation struggle hero, is not doing himself any favour by clinging to power even when it is clear that the people of Zimbabwe want change. History will certainly judge him harshly.