Africa’s last straw

Ethiopia and Liberia were the only independent African states with the rest of the continent having gradually-late 1950s and then in waves, 1960s being unshackled from colonial domination.
Those few nations which retained their independence despite the European colonial onslaught, and those that eventually attained independence over the years, did not stint in efforts to enable still colonized parts of the continent to emerge free and join in the building of African Unity. Although inheriting bank vaults and other assets emptied by departing colonials and destroyed in the struggle to get them out, perpetually independent Ethiopia, settler established Liberia and newly sovereign nations such as Egypt and Ghana were consistent in providing material, financial and political support to liberation movements. This continued until the near total eradication of colonialism from Africa by the late 1970s.
However, Africa was far from through as our brothers and sisters in South Africa, S.A. annexed Namibia and Rhodesia were suffering under conditions that were much worse than colonial rule. Africa redoubled its resolve and resources to focus wholeheartedly on ridding Africa and the world of the regimes of Pik Botha’s Apartheid South Africa and Ian Smith’s white supremacist Rhodesia.
A multi faceted campaign was led effectively by the O.A.U. and spearheaded by the valiant Frontline States (Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland) all of whom bore the brunt of South African and Rhodesian ire for sheltering, training and arming anti-apartheid and liberation forces. Although apartheid was to resist for 14 more years until it imploded in 1994, the Ian Smith regime could not withstand the pressures of a sustained and committed war for liberation and in 1980, Zimbabwe was born. The joy swept across Africa and the world. In the Caribbean Zimbabwe’s independence struggle inspired one Bob Marley to write ‘Zimbabwe’ (Uprising) a song destined not to become just a music industry hit but the unofficial anthem of black people throughout the world.
It has been 28 years almost to the month since the inimitable reggae legend performed on the occasion of Zimbabwe’s birth. It is also 28 years since Robert Mugabe, once a distinct candidate to the Hall of Great African Liberator Leaders has stayed in increasingly autocratic power.
Mugabe, hardly before the echoes from the Wailers amplifiers faded, began to consolidate power (1979-87) shedding by hook or by crook, Bishop Abel Muzerewa (UDS ) and Joshua Nkono-once comrades in the common struggle. But still, Africa stood by its son, warding off even then, the west’s barbs against Mugabe and company.
A litany of problems and orchestrated situations has blighted Zimbabwe; 1992 drought, controversial 1996 elections (opposition withdrew as it has in 2008), the politically correct but terribly botched and eventually catastrophic 2000 land redistribution, fraudulent 2002 elections, sanctions and trade embargoes, Operation Murambatsvina (clearing the garbage) which displaced 800,000 urbanites and hitherto unheard of levels of inflation. Through it all, African leaderships, notably SADC mandated S.A. President Thabu Mbeki, have been criticized for standing firm with Robert Mugabe and his perceived defense of sovereignty.
Now, Africa has at last had enough of Robert Mugabe. The former liberation fighter, ‘father of the nation’ and Africa’s freedom poster boy has become African shame and to make matters worse has publicly insulted the African Union, represented by Jean Ping-telling the A.U. to stop meddling (!?) and has even dared to chastise Nelson Mandela (Happy 90th and more happy memories!). In the same breathe Mugabe has thrown down the gauntlet by stating that wild horses would not keep him away from the upcoming A.U. Summit in Cairo. Wild horses may not do so but a slighted A.U. just might tell Mugabe he has loaded the last straw…..
And perhaps the fact that the Zimbabwe issue has come to a critical point with the international community united in its position (UN Security Council’s unanimous President’s Paper and A.U. and SADC condemnation), augurs well for the prospects of the eventual and complete demise of life term dictators from Africa’s political arena.