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Posted on 06/10/2002 3:59:31 AM PDT by Clive
PRESIDENT Mugabe’s presence in Rome, Italy, is meant to cock a snook at the European Union’s “smart” sanctions, which ban Zimbabwe’s political leadership from travelling to Europe, for the violent crisis and crimes against their own people over the past two years.
Mugabe is in Rome to appeal to the international community for food aid to save more than half the country’s population from starvation.
But for several other reasons, the visit is ironic. Zimbabwe received adequate rainfall and would have been able to produce food to feed, at least, its entire population. But Mugabe decreed his party supporters and the ragtag army of so-called war veterans were free to roam, terrorise the countryside and order all farming activities to be halted. Mugabe is, therefore, not the right person to be making an appeal at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) summit because it is his refusal to act on farm disruptions and seizures that are responsible for the food crisis in the country.
It is ironic that he should be in Rome pitching his appeal for food aid at the international community because the government placed massive orders for agricultural inputs meant for its new settlers, effectively crowding out other growers whose contribution would have lessened Zimbabwe’s critical food position. By the time the inputs reached the newly resettled villagers, and the other growers were able to access agricultural inputs, it was too late.
In other cases, when the inputs were available, there was no transport or fuel to ferry the inputs.
The drought is just but one of a myriad of causes, but not by any means the sole cause of Zimbabwe’s current food crisis.
The government is the chief architect of the food shortage, but the tragedy is that it is unwilling to see or acknowledge its authorship of the crisis. Instead, it prefers to blame the weather and an alleged conspiracy by commercial farmers, even though it has already listed 95 percent of the commercial farmland for acquisition.
By being in Rome, Mugabe is demonstrating the futility of the “smart” sanctions against himself and his government, but he is also saying he can create a crisis and leave the international community to assume responsibility for his actions.
If the conspiracy theory is to be taken seriously, where were and what was the contribution of the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union and the Indigenous Commercial Farmers’ Union, whose members make up the government’s entourage to Rome?
That they can agree to be herded into the government’s delegation, without seeing the contradiction, or even realising they should be on their farms supervising agricultural activities, demonstrates the paucity of their commitment to food production.
Now, more than ever, is the time they are needed to show their ability in championing food production, not begging.
But it is also ironic that the government should be in Rome, appealing for food, when councillors from the ruling party in Bulawayo admit they have been controlling the distribution of maize from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), effectively owning up to political patronage in the distribution of grain to vulnerable groups.
This is the same maize they wish to appeal for, from the world community so that they can continue to deny those without Zanu PF membership cards.
It is not for reasons of transparency and accountability that the government is allowing people with Zanu PF membership cards or its councillors to buy maize direct from the GMB. What then is the role of milling companies and the retail outlets?
Zanu PF has seized upon this national crisis in order to further the interests of its own members.
If the FAO summit produces pledges food aid for starving Zimbabweans, it must be on condition that non-governmental organisations – and not the government – be involved in its distribution.
Beyond the current crisis, the world community needs to consider seed packs for the next agricultural season, but again they must retain control of their distribution.
The tragedy involves African leaders who've refused to bring any pressure to bear on Mugabe's illegitimate presidency and terrorist regime. Why would Mugabe, or other African leaders, acknowledge genocide is their preferred form of campaigning and political patronage? That would make contries considering sending relief help, suspicious about who would be recieving food. Mugabe is using food to punish his opposition while rewarding his family, friends and political allies with vast lands and farms.
Anyone wanting to help the people of Zimbabwe would be better advised to donate their money to a fund to pay a bounty for the heads of Mugabe and his "war vetrans". IMHO.
It is a childish gesture of contempt. Understood by Brits and most Commonwealth nationals as an insult.
Gee...get rid of all the farmers, then wonder why there is no food. Go figure.
Yes, give him the Mussolini treatment.
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