The situation in Zimbabwe is not a new development. It is a festering matter put on the low or no priority list of international debate. The actions of the President Mugabe are a mere repeat of playbooks of strongmen in the same league -- Pakistan under President Musharraf, Serbia run by Mr. Milosevic, and the early days of the Ugandan Idi Amin come to mind.
Most powerful countries have tried to encourage change on the cheap. This exercise to isolate Zimbabwe has produced talk and hollow posturing, but hardly any tangible help for ordinary people there. The economic implosion of Zimbabwe -- once known for its humming agricultural and mining sectors, a respectable education system, and hard working people -- is the net product of disengagement. For the time being, local institutions are in the spotlight to see if the intended functions and independence of state bodies are effective. Election commissions, demands for recount, and courts are running the course.
What to do next? That is probably an unanswered question in most foreign capitals as news in English language media is snuffed out by other worries -- domestic economic pains, American elections, the Olympic torch, or the worn Iraq-Afghanistan pair of topics.
South Africa is best positioned to take the lead as it is the main economic and trading gateway of Zimbabwe. Other countries ought to encourage South Africa to be a forceful conduit and coordinator of international pressure and serve a bankruptcy and eviction notice on President Mugabe. All must remind him that his policies and administration of the last 20 years (especially the disingenuous land reform ordeal) are not a defendable résumé to remain at the helm of a country that has suffered a 50% reduction of planted land since 2000. An internationally recognized envoy ought to deliver such strong and unified message (as Kofi Annan managed in Kenya).
Unavoidably, it is time for change. In concert, laying down the law will also serve notice on bickering South African players -- President Thabo Mbeki and ANC leader Jacob Zuma -- that the interests of people ought to rise above the private interests of political personalities.
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