So, as not many of you probably know, Robert Mugabe won another
election in Zimbabwe at the beginning of this month.
If you ask any Zimbabwean though, he didn't win, he stole
it. I have made many friends while staying in Cape Town, and several of them
are from Zim (as they call it), and not a single one of them is happy with the
news from home. To help clarify why there is such overwhelming disappointment
with the once revered defeater of colonialism winning yet another five year
term in office, I sat down with several of my friends and hashed out the finer
details. They were reluctant to talk at first, not wanting to ruin the good
mood, but it was inevitable that we discuss what had transpired. Stay with me,
Americans, this part may get a little educational and I know how uncomfortable
that makes you all.
Zimbabwe is bicameral. Like the United States, they have a
Senate as well as a Parliament that functions like our House of Representatives.
Because Mugabe won a certain percentage over majority of seats with his party
in both houses, he has the power to amend the constitution. I had asked why
this was so bad, as Mugabe has been in power in Zimbabwe for a long, long time,
and Zimbabweans have lived under his radical policies for decades. Was this
time going to be really that much worse? Yes. They were convinced.
Mugabe is perhaps most infamous (or famous) for his fight to
take back Zimbabwe from British colonial rule, forcibly removing whites/foreigners
from their land and promising to reclaim Africa for Africans. While I can’t be
particularly upset with this, as I have many times voiced my extreme
displeasure with how colonial powers went about carving up the world for their
own massive exploitation, personally victimizing descendants of colonizers doesn't feel right either. In fact, it isn’t. Not at all to my surprise, my friends
from Zim (who are all black), decidedly agree!
Taking back Africa for Africans is a powerful and noble
cause, but it should never come at the expense of someone simply due to their
skin color. In reality, descendants of colonizers as well as expats like myself
are here, participating in the economy, often bringing in wealth from overseas,
providing jobs, paying for local goods, etc. They are no longer subjugating
based on race. They are no longer robbing Africa blind. In reality, the notion
of taking back Africa for Africans should be inclusive to everyone who is here
to help build infrastructure and contribute to a prosperous society.
Zimbabweans know this. It is obvious to them. That is why they are so mortified
that Mugabe has won, yet again.
In keeping with his absolute hatred and distrust of all
things that aren't Zim, Mugabe wants any foreign company looking to establish
itself in Zimbabwe to jump through some absolutely ridiculous hoops. For
instance, they must immediately surrender 51% of their company’s in-country
earnings to the government. While Chavez and Castro were able to pull off
stunts like this during their heydays, it was because they had significant
amounts of leverage. But, as my friends sadly pointed out, Zimbabwe has what?
Rice? Gold? Nothing that plenty of other nations aren't producing, and with far
fewer taxes and financial risk. They certainly don’t have oil and aren't in the
United States’ backyard. As a result, with such xenophobic policies Zimbabwe isn't going to see any money coming in from foreign companies. No one will
invest there.
Not just will no one invest there, but I've also learned
that it is extremely hard to bring anything into Zimbabwe without unjustifiable
and insane import tariffs. For instance, if you would like to bring a car into
Zim, you must pay 110% tax on the value of the car. One hundred and ten
percent. To the government. For what? Because they are so desperate to fund
their own operations – to pay teachers and maintain roads. They have isolated
themselves so much from the world they are forced to leech every dime they can
from their own people. While hearing the finer details of this economic scheme,
you begin to realize this is not Africa for Africans, this is a Mugabe ensuring
a cycle of oppressive and relentless poverty for Africans.
This is why I have so many new friends from Zim. They have
come to South Africa to run from Mugabe and his disinterest in prosperity.
Their drive to move is entirely economic. I was shocked to find out one of my
friends used to be a police officer in Zimbabwe, but makes a better living
waiting tables in Cape Town. That is a massive wage disparity.
Wouldn't you run too? Black or white, whatever your ethnic
group, Mugabe is not championing your cause, he’s not protecting your
interests, he’s not fighting for you.
So after all of this, how did he get elected? How did he win
such a massive majority if everyone is dreading what he will do to their
country if given another five years? There are rumors of fraud, and judging by
the sentiment of everyone, everywhere, it has to be true. The story is that an
Israeli or Chinese or whatever company has been working over the last few years
to perfect the ballots such that ink from a normal pen will activate a
watermark that the machines will read instead of the ink. The watermark, of
course, will show a vote for Mugabe, no matter who you've selected.
Because there are no police officers forcing people to the
polling stations or intimidating them into voting for their supreme leader,
outside observers have declared the election was free. Fair? I doubt it, but no
one is taking a stand to challenge him. After listening to all of this and
seeing the incredibly disheartening reality for my friends who still have loved
ones back home who will suffer under Mugabe’s democracy-turned-dictatorship, I
asked what will happen. Will Zimbabweans fight back? Will they demand change? No,
they said. We are not Arabs. There won’t be a coup. No assassination. Just five
more years.
In a democracy, we are raised with the golden notion that if
the people are not given their representation then it is their right, no, duty,
to overthrow the government. As an American, I know that I would never stand
idly for tyranny. (If anyone says anything here about Obama I swear to God you
are a spoiled brat. The tyranny that others around the world face is NOTHING
compared to the extreme levels of freedom, liberty and guaranteed inalienable
rights that Americans have – now stop with the whining, I won’t have you
compare yourselves to people living under actual dictators).
I feel for the people of Zimbabwe. I hope that something
miraculous will happen. I hope someone there will start building a real Africa
for Africans – one where all of the residents of a country see benefits of
their policies. But even saying those words, I can taste how hollow they are. I
know it’s not going to happen. Not at least for another five years. Hang on,
Zim. Your time will come. In the meantime, just hang on.
No comments:
Post a Comment