Mugabe in the mirror of Helen Suzman
Published: Sunday | January 4, 2009
Ms Suzman was a white South African, born to privilege, who was offended by the indecency of apartheid, of which she was a natural beneficiary, but chose to fight against.
She served for 36 years in South Africa's then white Parliament, 13 of which she stood alone resisting the juggernaut of the National Party as it pushed through legislation to diminish the rights of black South Africans. Hers was a strident international voice in the anti-apartheid struggle and there is no doubt that she lent credibility to the movement in some quarters where its legitimacy might have been questioned.
It is a measure of her contribution to the struggle that she was assessed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation as "a great patriot and fearless fighter against apartheid".
Significantly, like Mr Mandela, the African National Congress leader who came to symbolise the anti-apartheid struggle, Ms Suzman claimed no right or ownership to either the process or its achievements. She did what was right and good and decent. And that was an end in itself.
Ms Suzman's passing and the inevitable beam it shines on to the iconic Mr Mandela draws to the mind another partisan of the southern African struggles who has grown old and cynical, believing that his efforts bequeathed onto him right of ownership of a country and control over a people.
unhinged behaviour
Our reference, obviously, is to Robert Mugabe, the ruler of Zimbabwe, whose anti-democratic and unhinged behaviour defiles the memory of the war he led against white minority rule. Mr Mugabe has had nearly three decades of unbroken leadership of Zimbabwe, the latter half of which has been misery for his people.
His ZANU-PF party has intimidated opponents, rigged elections and, as is currently the case, having failed to prevail, wriggled out of power-sharing agreements. Mr Mugabe, nonetheless, has the gall to blame Zimbabwe's crumbled economy and the privations of his people on the supposed actions of the white minority - agents of whom he claims his black opponents to be - and alleged outside interference. Incredibly, he wins support from apologists, who engage in arguments of moral sophistry.
It is long past time for Mr Mugabe to be gone, if Zimbabwe is to be spared further deterioration, and if a platform is to be laid for its recovery. It is clear that he has to be shoved on his way - with help from kith and kin in the Caribbean, who, in the Zimbabwe leader's decent past, supported and facilitated his struggle against white rule.
As we have suggested before, Jamaica should strip Mr Mugabe of the honorary Order of Jamaica (OJ) that was awarded to him for his contribution to the fight against apartheid in southern Africa and the development of Africa generally. Mr Mugabe has violated the spirit of the award and engaged in behaviour unbecoming of an OJ.
Caribbean Community countries should also suspend diplomatic relations with Harare until Mr Mugabe steps down or regains his senses.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.
