Zimbabwe Named “Outpost of Tyranny”

Condoleezza Rice, in the run up to her confirmation hearings as the next American Secretary of State, named six nations as “outposts of tyranny.” The list included Iran and North Korea (which double as members of the “axis of evil”) and Cuba (unsuccessfully embargoed for more than 40 years). Also noted were Burma and Belarus, which are indeed run by nasty vicious regimes that need to go. Most gratifying, though, was the acknowledgement of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe as the final such outpost. Now, the Bush administration must marry actions to words.

In power since the demise of the racist white-minority regime of Ian Smith a quarter century ago, Robert Mugabe has mismanaged the state and economy about as badly as one could. Land “reform” has resulted in food shortages, and large farms being passed to Mr. Mugabe’s cronies. Opposition newspapers don’t exist. The leader of the opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, was recently tried for treason. Inflation has run amok, wiping out any wealth the people had stored. And of course, elections have been rigged.

Of course, Mr. Mugabe has blamed his failures on white colonialists and their lackeys. Everything, according to the government, is just peachy. And so, Dr. Rice wrongly insulted the nation. Mercifully, the ruling ZANU-PF thugs are an understanding bunch; "When comments like that come from fascists, we are not really worried," Didymus Mutasa told the BBC. As Anti-Corruption Minister, one would have thought he should have resigned ages ago. Still, he vowed that any American attack would be thwarted. "The Iraqis did not treat them at all well. Let them come to Zimbabwe and they will face it," he said. He might just as easily have quoted the American president by saying, “Bring it on.”

Currently, American policy is one of targeted sanctions. Mr. Mugabe and his crew can’t come to the US, and their assets in American are frozen. It is good, but it is not enough because it only creates inconvenience. It doesn’t alter the situation for the people of Zimbabwe, which an effective policy must address.

One is suspicious of the use of troops, not after the cakewalk to Baghdad became the quagmire of Mesopotamia. However, sanctions are weak and largely ineffective – and usually hurt the people one it trying to help. The first step, if Dr. Rice and Mr. Bush are serious about freedom and liberty in Zimbabwe (and one prays they are), is to use the March parliamentary elections to recognize a government-in-exile. Mr. Mugabe is 80 years old, and with luck, will pass from the scene soon. Strengthening the opposition now will help ensure the tyranny dies with him – if not sooner.

© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.

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