by Inthadar

Created on: February 05, 2009

The issue of Zimbabwe's continuing devolution as a country, and the ongoing presence of its tyrannical despot, has been a global eyesore for quite some time. Speculation abounds as to whether he is a figurehead for African independence from Western interference, or in fact a power-hungry madman driven insane with his own self-worth, his conjectured place as an African pioneer.

There are innumerable opinions about the state of affairs in Zimbabwe. For certain, it is no longer the breadbasket it used to be, hardly capable of sustaining even its own catastrophic degradation, let alone creating worth for itself and its economy as an exporter. And why is this happening? Is it honestly worth defending a man who is following in the footsteps of all the truly horrific dictators of history? What good is the struggle for freedom and emancipation from the popular and ever-present tirades against colonialism and its lasting aftereffects, if the most basic aspects of human rights are denied? In spite of the global conditions and the concurrent downward spiral it seems to be achieving, Zimbabwe and its highly controversial and - I fear - rightly demonized dictator is a constant insult to a continent that, it seems, never has a moment's peace.

I myself live in South Africa, a few hundred kilometers from the Zimbabwean border. We South Africans are not blind to what happens north of our borders, and I think it is safe to say that we have a more focused awareness of Mugabe and his antics than the world's general view. South Africa has not gone unscathed by global opinion for our inability to, even now, broker some sort of solution, as the world's politicians vaccilate on taking decisive action against a selfish despot. Already the cases of cholera in South Africa are rising, as Zimbabwean refugees swarm across our borders, seeking asylum from a man who would rather operate under delusions of grandeur and possibly, ultimately, rather save his own backside and jump ship when things get worse.

Killing Mugabe will force a scenario of martyrdom, rallying other third-world countries with political issues behind a banner of supposed self-righteousness and the continued excuse of creating countries that are totally free of colonialism. It would be foolish to think he might die of natural causes at any time soon; despite his age, he has the tenacity of all those who refuse, even beyond a sell-by date, to relinquish power. The Western world seems to hold the cards, and the options as to

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