President Mugabe fiddles while his country burns

It is clear that Robert Mugabe, the corrupt leader of the central African nation of Zimbabwe, fiddled with the conduct of the recent election, has fiddled with the nation’s economy to the point of rendering its currency worthless, and is fiddling with the basic human rights of his people.

And yet, other African leaders continue to treat Mugabe with kid gloves.

If the prospect of 5 million Zimbabweans not knowing where their next meal is going to come from fails to convince members of the African Union that regime change in the former British colony called Rhodesia has become a moral imperative, nothing will.

Humanitarian agencies are urging the government to lift its ban on aid agencies, but the president and members of his inner circle accuse the groups of supporting the opposition led by Morgan Tsvangirai, a charge the groups have denied. But since the June 5 ban, the limited food supplies have gone primarily to Mugabe’s thugs.

The result is that thousands of people who are already fighting to stay alive because of a lack of jobs, proper housing, clean water and health care, are now of the verge of starving to death.

Outside intervention

This crisis cries out for outside intervention. If members of the African Union won’t act with more than restrained observations, then the United Nations must get involved.

While sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other countries — the latest is Germany — may have an effect of sorts, they will not cause a change Mugabe’s behavior. That’s because he and his minions have an iron-fisted grip on every aspect of the nation’s life. Their corruption knows no bounds. They have assets, including bank accounts, around the world, and yet they have not been called to account for their thievery.

The crimes against humanity are simply ignored.

Last Friday, Mugabe tightened his hold on the reins of power when he claimed victory in a runoff election that featured only him. Tsvangirai, who had defeated the president in the regular election in March but failed to get a majority of the vote, which prompted the runoff, withdrew his name prior to Friday’s voting.

The opposition leader credibly charged that government forces had unleashed a campaign of death and destruction against his supporters and that a free election was not possible. Indeed, he said his withdrawal was aimed at preventing further violence against his people.

Many world leaders called on Mugabe to postpone the runoff, but he refused.

Thus today, one of the world’s most corrupt, inhumane leaders remains as arrogant as ever. He thumbs his nose at the world community and shows no desire to compromise with the opposition leader.

As we noted in an editorial prior to the runoff election, the unwillingness of the world community to confront him will simply make him more unyielding.

We also suggested that one way to pressure him would be to let the people of Zimbabwe know how much wealth Mugabe and members of his inner circle have accumulated around the world.

The time for action is now. Doing nothing will cause the death of a nation — literally.