Editorial: The world is watching

News
UNITED States President Barack Obama used his historic trip to South Africa to drive home the point that the world is watching Zimbabwe’s forthcoming polls

UNITED States President Barack Obama used his historic trip to South Africa to drive home the point that the world is watching Zimbabwe’s forthcoming elections with a keen interest.

Southern Eye Editorial.

Obama made reference to the Zimbabwe crisis at every opportunity, but his articulation of the problems besetting this country in a speech he delivered at the University of Cape Town on Sunday, went a long way to dispel myths that the world was now ready to embrace Zanu PF even if the party remained allergic to reforms.

Over the past few months, Zanu PF propagandists have been beating their drums claiming that the United States and other Western countries were ready to dump pro-democracy politicians in Zimbabwe and make peace with President Robert Mugabe.

Their reasoning was that these countries felt they were losing out on Zimbabwe’s supposed economic revival spurred by a discovery of diamonds a few years ago.

Obama rightly noted that the economic recovery gave the country an opportunity to advance, but only if upcoming elections were “free and fair”.

“Zimbabweans have a new Constitution. The economy is beginning to recover. So there is an opportunity to move forward,” Obama said.

“But only if there is an election that is free, fair and peaceful so that Zimbabweans can determine their future without fear of intimidation and retribution.”

Obama went on to say in Zimbabwe “the promise of liberation gave way to the corruption of power and then the collapse of the economy”.

The US President was spot-on and we are encouraged that world leaders still have their eyes on the ball. The forthcoming elections will make or break Zimbabwe.

Sadc has been pushing for a free and fair poll, but it is becoming clear that Mugabe will ignore advice even if it came from his peers, as long as it interferes with his scheme to hold on to power until he dies.

Mugabe last week told the New Era newspaper of Namibia that those calling for reforms before elections and an extension to his unilateral July 31 poll date were dreaming.

This was despite the fact he had made assurances to Sadc that he would ensure reforms and a two-week extension to the poll date were implemented. The Zanu PF leader appeared to be bluntly telling the regional leaders to go to hell.

However, Mugabe must be wise to listen to Obama’s advice. Just like in 2008 when the world rejected his sham re-election, no chicanery at the forthcoming polls will go unpunished.