Zimbabwe Report
assessments, Cries for Intervention and Silence abound
By Scott Morgan
Friday, July 15, 2005at the recent G-8 summit in Gleneagles in Scotland, and in a series of Music Extravaganzas that were held around the world, there were loud cries to end the seemingly perpetual poverty that plagues sub-Saharan africa. This is a noble goal in itself, but what should be done when one leader enforces poverty to remain in power?
Ever since the highly controversial parliamentary mid-term elections were held in Zimbabwe at the end of March, there has been an effort by President Mugabe to consolidate his power by increasing the number of people in the rural areas of the country; which happens to be the powerbase for his ruling ZaNU-PF party. One aspect of this power play has been the launching of the highly controversial and destructive Operation Murambatsvina (Take out the Trash).
This security operation which has resulted in several fatalities, has caused 1.5 Million People to become homeless, and has imposed substantial damage on an already crippled economy. Some of the building destroyed include schools, churches, an orphanage, and even vegetable gardens.
Several organizations, including the african Union, the United Nations and the South african Council of Churches, have sent teams to assess the ongoing situation. Regretfully, the aU representative was snubbed as his arrival was at the same time as that of the UN Representative. The UN will release a report within two weeks regarding its assessment and Habitat, the agency that monitors fair housing claims, will set up an office soon in Harare.
The South african Council of Churches has been the first group to call for an intervention in Zimbabwe. although they were not specific in who they wanted to intervene, whether they are regional actors like South africa, or the world in general, they want someone from the outside to assist there. It also called upon the churches in Zimbabwe to ensure that all aid be distributed to those who are in dire need after the government actions. a government statement reported that President Mugabe is rejecting all pressure from his peers to end the ongoing political crisis.
another assessment team has been sent by the U.S. Congress. The U.S. was generally seen as easing its pressure on Zimbabwe after the peaceful March elections, but after reports of this operation surfaced things have begun to change in the eyes of Congress. The last time that the U.S. tried to intervene in an african crisis produced an internaional embarrassment and dead soldiers. Washington is confused, as no entity is offering any concrete solutions to end the crisis, as the opposition begins to make Washington a major target in its efforts to gain international support. Whatever occurs, it appears that any pressure from Washington will not be relieved to bring about stability. However a Zimbabwean Government statement said that relations vis-à-vis the U.S. will be done as equal partners; not like a master and a slave.
