An Open Letter to President Jakaya Kikwete, Chairman of the AU

I hope this finds you well, Sir. I must say, you have taken up a responsibility that is overly daunting and heavy. Having all African countries under your arm and constant watch is no mean feat.

As you, and I, know only too well, Africa is a continent that is dogged and bedeviled by all manner of ills that you can and could mention:

Bloodshed (and blood letting); wars and rumours of wars; extensive “rape” of human rights; the world’s top-class dictators; lack of democracy; elaborate election rigging schemes (otherwise known as “stealing of elections” and “doctoring of election results”); disregard for human lives even by the bodies that have been charged with the mandate to protect them (e.g. the police).

These, I wish to believe, are but some of the stories that you have to contend with everyday (the running of your country, Tanzania, notwithstanding).

Sir, let me direct your attention to one present problem that is sticking out like a sore thumb. This is none other than the Zimbabwe (and Mugabe) issue.

Zimbabwe is a country that is going through harrowing problems. Its people are suffering and dying. People are banned even from speaking out their minds and freedom of expression has been curtailed.

These are people who cannot, in normal circumstances, share what they are going through in their country with the rest of the world. Only the very courageous (who put their lives on the line) usually do so.

These people are going without the basic necessities of life: food, shelter and clothing. Unemployment is very high in Zimbabwe. The spiralling inflation has driven the prices of commodities to sheer “mad” levels.

In this background, how can the common person in Zimbabwe, (someone without a job), be expected to meet their bills? Most jobs, too, just pay a pittance. So the situation is plain impossible for virtually everyone. Mr. Kikwete, this is just too much for these people.

Thousands, nay, millions of Zimbabweans have fled their country to seek for ‘economic release and relief’ elsewhere, especially farther down in South Africa. But recent developments in South Africa, which many people have called xenophobic attacks, have forced these ‘economic refugees’ to go back to the fire they thought they had bidden farewell to: Zimbabwe, the home of their tyrannical leader, Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe is a man who is ready to do anything just to remain in power. His pronouncements two days ago just revolted me. He said something to the effect that Zimbabwe is a country that was liberated by the gun and it won’t just slip through the fingers of ‘Zimbabweans' by the result of a mere ballot. He says he is ready to engage in war to remain in power.

Some weeks ago, his wife told the Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, that he should not dream of taking over as president while Mugabe was still alive. She reiterated that that would only happen when Mugabe dies and not in any other circumstance.

Mr. Jakaya Kikwete, these are things that should not be allowed to happen. In fact these are some of the things that the AU, and African leaders as a whole, should stand up against. This state of affairs should not be allowed to continue.

Questions

But why is there no African leader (except for few) telling Mugabe to his face that what he is doing is WRONG?

Why is the AU not baring its fangs at such dire times for the people of Zimbabwe to be saved from their almost imminent, tumultuous demise?

Or

Are African presidents silent because they see a part of themselves in Robert Mugabe? (And that talking up against him, and what he is doing, would be a case of cutting the nose to spite the face?).

Mr. Kikwete, Zimbabweans go to the polls later this month for a run-off of the presidential elections. And Mr. Mugabe is not ready to leave office if he loses these elections. And Morgan Tsvangirai is being given a hard time, holding a campaign rally for him has been made increasingly difficult.

There have also emerged claims that Mugabe is using the army to forge his cause: winning the elections even if it involves breaking a few bones.

Against this background, Mr. Kikwete, I present my plea to you: Zimbabweans are looking up to you, other African leaders and the international community to come to their rescue and save them from the rush decisions and mad actions of their no-white-nonsense leader: Robert Mugabe.

Though this is a tall order, it is the right course to take. Mind you, Zimbabwe is greater than their tyrant of a leader, Mugabe. It is time for change. The people’s voices should be heeded and respected.

With that, I rest my case.

Yours truly,

Ritch.