The Day Democracy Died
By Shae Courtney
Many would argue that democracy in Zimbabwe died when Robert Mugabe became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in 1980. Others would argue that democracy ended when Mugabe’s wife, Sally, died in 1992. The exact date of when democracy failed in Zimbabwe was Sunday, June 22nd 2008 when opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, pulled out of the Presidential election.
So great has the violence been against the MDC, that the leader of the opposition shocked the international community on Sunday by announcing that he will no longer be contesting the Presidency. Many of his supporters, as an online blog shows, supported his actions in the face of widespread surprise both from those inside and outside of the African nation.
As with my previous article of March 5th 2008 entitled “Crimes of Ignorance”, I call upon the international community to act on this, a truly deplorable abuse of human rights. Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has already signalled the need for forceful action against the Zimbabwean government saying, “Today's [June 22nd] announcement must finally be the catalyst for aggressive action against Zimbabwe.” Tsvangirai called upon the international community to step in to avoid “genocide.” Already over eighty key figures in the opposition party, the MDC, have been murdered in an anti-opposition crackdown. Many women who oppose Mugabe’s tyrannous regime have been raped and abused by Mugabe’s henchmen in what many are calling one of the worst humanitarian disasters since mass murder occurred in Rwanda in April 1994.
The greater the amount of time allowed to pass with no action being taken, the greater our crimes of ignorance become. It is clear for all to see what is happening, who is enacting the violence and for what reasons the violence is occurring. Whilst world leaders offer little or no help to the steadily growing crisis in Zimbabwe, many thousands of the world’s people are more than happy to vent their anger at television screens as they learn of the news. It is our duty, as pioneers of freedom, democracy and liberty, to vent our anger at our leaders and our representatives to act in an ever more concerning political dilemma in Africa. We must write to the Prime Minister, we must write to our local MPs and we must not give up hope. For the people of Zimbabwe, the actions of those here at home could be their only hope.
Should you wish to contact the Prime Minister about the worsening humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe, I urge you to join me in sending a letter to: Prime Minister Gordon Brown, 10, Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA or alternatively send him an email via www.number-10.gov.uk.
