Russia’s invasion of Georgia takes spotlight off Zimbabwe

While the international community works to bring an end to the crisis in Georgia, the former republic in the old Soviet Union, the central African nation of Zimbabwe may be heading for even greater disaster if a political compromise becomes reality.

Why? Because President Robert Mugabe, who has been responsible for the deaths of untold numbers of critics and political opponents, would remain in charge of the military. Given Mugabe’s record of using the armed forces to destroy villages populated with Zimbabweans aligned with opposition parties, it would be tantamount to ensuring an aggressive campaign of political cleansing.

What is surprising is that the compromise was put forth by the chief opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangiari, during a meeting last week of the Southern African Development Committee in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tsvangiari is viewed by many leaders around the world, including some in Africa, as the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.

Tsvangiari came first in a field of four in the first round of presidential voting in March, but did not win by the margin necessary to avoid a runoff against second-place finisher Mugabe, who has led the country for three decades since it gained independence from Britain.

Tsvangiari withdrew from the June 27 runoff because of attacks on his supporters blamed on Mugabe’s party militants and security forces. Whole villages were destroyed and thousands of refugees have fled to neighboring South Africa.

Mugabe held the runoff, and was declared the overwhelming winner, though the exercise was widely denounced worldwide.

Permitting him to retain the position of president — Tsvangiari would hold the position of prime minister — and to control the military would have the effect of legitimizing his re-election.

While we understand the need for political reconciliation, any proposal that would include Mugabe is doomed to fail.

Bloody rule

That’s because all the hallmarks of his presidency — the bloody rule, the corruption that has enriched him and his cronies, and the economic destruction of Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of Africa — will continue.

There must be international pressure on Mugabe to step down. The United States and other democracies have a moral responsibility to the poor, the displaced and the dying (as a result of a shortage of food and medicine) to find a way of bringing about true political change.

While it is true that the future or stability of Zimbabwe is not of particular national interest to the U.S., President Bush has made it clear that his administration is committed to the spread of freedom around the world. He has said that dictatorial regimes which retain power through the use of force must be replaced.

Given what has occurred in Zimbabwe — Mugabe and members of his inner circle have raided the public treasury and have even pocketed American foreign aid meant for the poor — charges of crimes against humanity could easily be justified.

The only thing that is required is for the United States and its allies to recognize that the people of the central African nation are just as much in need of international involvement as the citizens of Georgia.