ZIMBABWE: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATION

Following an international outcry about the legitimacy of the last Presidential run-off in Zimbabwe, the future of the Southern African nation has become the questionable theme across trans-national boundaries. President Mugabe’s controversial victory and assumption of office as head of state has again trapped the plight of innocent citizens between a critical state of uncertainty and the path of isolation.

Divisions within the African Union(AU) about the looming crisis in Zimbabwe made many political pundits question the impact of a unanimous resolution at the recently concluded AU summit held in Egypt.  The resolution called for the formation of a “National Unity Government” under the auspices of the AU. It also called for an election to be followed after such a government takes shape in the country.

What however concern many are the failures of the AU to not only declare the Mugabe victory illegitimate, but also a failure to unanimously condemn the spade of violence and torture against innocent citizens in the said resolution.  

Although signs of division have already emerged about a United Nations sanctions to tighten the noose on the government of President Mugabe, the European Union (EU) as a regional and global economic bloc may very likely impose its own sanctions.

Reports also indicated that the brokered African Union (AU) resolution have already ushered the beginning of talks between the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The most recent G8 summit where echoes of Sanctions were made by member states such as the United States(US) and the United Kingdom (UK) was also met with opposition by African countries at the summit.

The reasoning of African countries on sanctions as a deteriorating and escalating mechanism of the crisis seem to have averted or tossed away any decision of such sanctions at the said summit. What remains to be seen is how well that will play with the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).

Now that divisions have already emerged about the situation in Zimbabwe, what is certain is that, the African Union brokered resolution for a national unity government tends to be making positive strides. Although the leader of opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsangarai refused to meet President Mugabe on questions of legitimacy, there are still hopes that a national unity government under African union auspices may take shape. This is so because officials of both parties have already entered in to talks in neighboring South Africa.

It is therefore important for the United Nations (UN), the United States (US), the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) to unanimously impose an arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions.  Such targeted  economic sanctions such as a travel ban and the freezing of individual overseas bank accounts will only reinforce efforts of compelling ZANU-PF adhere to the formation of a national unity government. It will also have little or nor impact on innocent men, women and children of the already volatile impoverished nation. What remains unknown is what the future holds for the Southern African nation after the formation of a brokered African Union National Unity Government. Only time will tell if incumbent President Mugabe and his generals will adhere to democratic principles, values and ethics. 

The author is the editorial-editor senegambianews.com and also publishes The Sword of Truth at http://www.sofawarrior.blog.com/  He can be reached at binnehsminteh@senegambianews.com or bsm235@nyu.edu.