I watch the events unfurling in Zimbabwe with growing sadness and despair. It’s been over four weeks since the elections took place, and still the victor has not been announced. That Mugabe should cling onto power by any means necessary is not surprising; but that African leaders should remain so silent is both surprising and terrible.
Where is Mandela, the ultimate great African leader? Where is Kofi Annan? Why has John Kuffour, the highly-respected Ghanaian president and head of the African Union, remained so quiet?
It is understandable that Africa is loath to invite international interference in their affairs. And yet why don’t the African leaders themselves take up the challenge to defend the interests of the people of Zimbabwe?
South African premiere Thabo Mbeki is looking increasingly foolish, meeting Mugabe two weeks ago to state that there is ”no crisis” in Zimbabwe; pictured smiling and holding hands with “Uncle Bob” as the country imploded around him.
Observers have noted that Mbeki looks like he feels it his duty not to “break ranks” with his fellow African leaders.
Tom Wheeler, research fellow at the South African Institute for International Affairs, said: “By not putting pressure on the Zimbabwean government when it started becoming clear the election had gone to the MDC, he did not do anyone any good. Much damage has been done.”
“There doesn’t appear to be much of an international role for him left, except perhaps within that group of African leaders into whose hands he had played – those that are happy to subvert democratic rule.”
And what does this mean for Africa, if the continent’s influential leaders are indeed “happy to subvert democratic rule”?
Britain should be praised for highlighting the issue, as should much of the media internationally. The Washington Post published an editorial claiming that Mugabe had stolen the election, while The Economist called his actions “unconscionable”. The Guardian has followed events comprehensively, writing about the “poor billionaires” who cannot survive the horrific economic conditions.
But the situation needs more than David Miliband ranting, or The Guardian’s critical editorials.
It needs African leaders to stand up and make their voices heard. Because this deafening silence on the end of democracy cannot continue.
