Violence and Torture in Zimbabwe

"To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" (Nelson Mandela)

If only President Mbeki and his cabinet would agree. Rather than condemn the brutal police beatings of opposition politicians in Zimbabwe, President Mbeki has instead continued with his policy of silent diplomacy.

President Mbeki did not even address the Zimbabwe crisis in his weekly ANC Today newsletter. Instead he used his Human Rights Day (Human Rights Day is on March 21 in South Africa) newsletter to focus on racism in South Africa, arguing that it is merely a perception fed by white racists that crime in South Africa is out of control.

Of far greater concern however is the irresponsible manner with which South Africa has decided to wield their UN Security Council presidential power.

Reuters reports that Britain asked the UN on Friday for a special UN Security Council session on Zimbabwe but South Africa made it clear that no action would follow. South Africa’s ambassador to the UN Dumisani Kumalo, opposed the call because "the turmoil in Zimbabwe did not affect international peace and security". Kumalo believes that the Zimbabwe issue belongs in other UN bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council. (The UN Human Rights Council however has never passed a resolution against Zimbabwe or Sudan. Since its inception a year ago, the new U.N. Human Rights Council has passed eight resolutions, all accusing Israel of human rights violations.)

Kumalo added

"We do not believe that the issue of Zimbabwe belongs in the Security Council. So to bring it to the council is surprising."

The only surprise to me is the degree to which President Mbeki’s administration is failing the words of former president Nelson Mandela.

Zimbabwean blog Sokwanele Zvakwana (Enough is Enough) has compiled a harrowing video consisting of extracts of interviews immediately after the arrests and torture of many of Zimbabwe's opposition and civic leaders. Some have been taken from SW Radio Africa (Zimbabwe's only independent radio station) forced to broadcast to Zimbabwe from a position of exile in London.

Sokwanele writes

Much of the media focus has been on Morgan Tsvangirai, who was subjected to an unspeakable attack, and is still recovering in hospital from injusires which include a cracked skull. But are you also aware that one of the people tortured this weekend was Sekai Holland, a 63 year old grandmother who has long fought for the rights of Zimbabweans? (We are glad to say that she remains courageous and in good spirits, and is an inspiration to us all). Have you seen the level of bruising and soft tissue damage that Mugabe's thugs inflicted on Grace Kwinje? Grace's ear was almost completely severed off as a result of torture. We especially ask AFRICAN bloggers to help us get the truth right out there into the African blogosphere. We need to put pressure on regional leaders to take action against this kind of unacceptable level of barbarity against Zimbabwean civilians and pro-democracy leaders by the Mugabe regime. If you live outside Zimbabwe and are angry about what is going on in Zimbabe, please tune into SW Radio Africa to get the news straight from a Zimbabwean perspective

The full quote from Mandela, from his book "The Long Walk to Freedom" reads

When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both. Some say that has now been achieved. But I know that that is not the case. The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed. We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road. For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning.

Comments

[Mike]

Brilliant post Steve! I endorse your sentiments 100%

[The Dictator / Embittered Correspondent]

Why do you think that Mbeki and his govt are keeping so shtumm?

Has anyone heard a dickey-bird from Ronno Einstein?

[Gary]

I have no doubt that Ronno Einstein is the major acrhitect of South Africa's pro-totalitarian foreign policy.
He has publicly praised and defended the Mugabe regime.