Bush can strike a blow for democracy in Africa

During his visit to Africa last month, President Bush talked often and passionately about freedom — political and economic — that is the hallmark of democracy. Bush urged African leaders to not only govern honestly, but to put the needs of their people before all else.

In a continent filled with dictatorships and corrupt leaders, the president’s message was timely and necessary.

“I’ll put it bluntly, America doesn’t want to spend money on people who steal the money from the people,” Bush said during his visit to the East African nation of Tanzania. “We like dealing with honest people and compassionate people. We want our money to go to help the human condition and to save human lives.”

The president received high marks for his message of hope and promise of financial aid during the six-nation visit.

The people of Africa, who have long suffered under the yolk of corrupt leaders, took heart from Bush’s speeches, and they are waiting to see if the words are supported by actions.

The administration has the opportunity to strike a blow for freedom and democratic government by getting involved in the presidential and parliamentary elections in central African nation of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe epitomizes the economic and political destruction of a once vibrant, wealthy nation. The iron-fisted rule of President Robert Mugabe, the 84-year-old megalomanic, has caused the collapse of what was once considered the breadbasket of Africa.

Critics silenced

Mugabe, with the assistance of his thuggish supporters, has dismantled all the structures of free society and has silenced his critics through death, imprisonment or expulsion.

It is against this backdrop that the so-called elections will take place March 29.

Human Rights Watch, which has long placed Zimbabwe at the top of its list of violators, has accused the government of continued violence against detractors, restricting freedom of assembly, using distribution of food and farming equipment to gain political advantage and denying opponents access to the media.

“Despite some improvements on paper to the election regulations, Zimbabweans aren’t free to vote for the candidates of their choice,” the group said.

That observation should be the basis of the Bush administration urging the United Nations to become directly involved in Zimbabwe’s elections. The world organization has enough evidence of Mugabe’s criminality to charge him in the international court of justice. It is unfortunate that neither the U.N. nor the African Union has seen fit to intercede on behalf of the people of the country who face death due to disease and starvation brought on by the president’s policy of rewarding his supporters and punishing his detractors.

The fact that Zimbabwe is only admitting observers from countries deemed friendly speaks volumes. Such barriers to free and transparent elections are unacceptable.

President Bush has given Africans a reason to hope that the United States will pave the way for their freedom. He should not disappoint them.