The K Experience

UK government official no 1: "So this Zimbabwe business, what on Earth shall we do about it old chap?"

UK government official no 2: "Well I was thinking about it, and ... well...we can ban them from playing cricket, what what."

UK government official no 1: "Good show, good show in deed, old chap. That'll soon sort out that Mugabe fellow. With that crippling sanction, he will soon see the error of his ways, and free and fair elections will come about in no time." 

So now the UK have banned Zimbabwe from playing cricket in the one day internationals next summer which will be in the UK, and are seeking to get Zimbabwe banned from all international cricket games. Crippling sanctions indeed. I can imagine Mugabe will be crying in his sleep.

It seems like a feeble move, but understandable. I guess they are not expecting to change much due to the ban, but are simply sending a message to Mugabe in disapproval.

The Western media have done a good job of reporting on the Zimbabwe elections, and the ensuing events. They also received a letter from Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, asking for the West to intervene with force.

I do understand that what Mugabe is accused of doing is damaging not only to his country but to the continent as a whole, which already has a bad press (literally), and Africa really doesn't need this kind of trouble. 

However, I see a problem with this plea. I strongly believe that if anyone is to intervene, it must not be any of the countries of the west, and the Ideal scenario if the issue cannot be solved by Zimbabwe alone, is for the African Nations alone to intervene. According to Tsvangirai they have, but only in word, and not in action, which has not been enough. The reason why the West cannot and must not intervene is because of it's history in relation to Zimbabwe, and other African countries. As a previous British Colony, if Zimbabwe were to accept help from the UK, it would give the impression that Zimbabwe had not yet become mature enough on its own, and had not thrown off its colonial yoke (which sadly seems to be the case). Also the memory of the post colonial situation created by the colonialists is still fresh in the minds of many Africans. In Zimbabwe's case, it was the case of the privileged white farmers owning the majority of the farm land, while the black farmers owned the worst, or nothing at all. One will recall that it was Mugabe himself who addressed this issue in 2000, when he supported the forceful removal of those farms from the white to the black farmers. Many in Africa saw this as a long awaited sign of independence for Zimbabwe, and welcomed the move, although the violence was a bit much. Unfortunately, Mugabe seemed to have gone a step too far, and plunged his country into economic and social turmoil. To accept help from the West now would be a true sign that political maturity is yet to reach the land.

Yes, it may seem like I am putting the pride, and power of African independence over the lives of the many Africans that are suffering and that have died in Zimbabwe as a result of the current happenings. But I am not. All I am saying is that Africa must step up to this challenge and solve it on her own, and there are many reasons for this. One reason is the past record of the West when helping Africa, and African Nations. Help has never come without strings attached, which have been in the form of economic restrictions, or other political policies that have ended up damaging Africa more than helping. Also the Western nations have an agenda and problems of their own, and will take any opportunity to use Africa to ease their own problems if possible. So the only nations that Zimbabwe can trust are the other African nations.

It remains to be seen how this situation will turn out. I remember writing about the first round of elections in Zimbabwe earlier this year, and said that I was optimistic, and had hope for the country. It turned out that I was wrong. However I hope that I am not wrong about Africa's ability to sort out this mess. Banning Zimbabwe from playing cricket (a very colonial natured form of punishment) may be the only thing that the West will do right now, but we can make sure that they will need to go no further. Africa, let's stop leaning on others for help, and let's sort out our own problems. 

[Source: picture of cricketer from crickethighlights.info] 

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