John Stanko

I have not written much about Zimbabwe lately. I refrained from writing after the abortive reelection where the opposition was tortured and tormented to such an extent that the opposition leader withdrew rather than see more of his followers suffer. I did not write when the reelection was held and Mr. Mugabe was declared the "winner." I did not write after all the zeros were removed from the currency so that prices and currency could once again be manageable, even though the root causes of inflation rates that the world has never seen were not dealt with. I did not write when Mr. Mbeki from South Africa insured the world that things were alright and that a power sharing settlement was imminent between the rival parties. I did not write when Mr. Tsvangirai was detained by the government at the Harare airport last week so he would miss his flight and the SADC meeting in South Africa.

So why didn't I write?

I didn't write because it seemed like the easy thing to do -- sit in the safety of America and pass judgment on events taking place 8,000 miles away. I didn't write because I have many friends in Zimbabwe and I did not want to criticize their country or their leadership. I didn't write because I suspected how things were going to turn out, but I didn't want to be negative or pessimistic. I didn't write because the problems are so huge that my paltry, measly posts seemed to dishonor the nobility of a great people who are suffering daily.

Today I decided to write. Why today?

I write today because the ridiculous "power-sharing" talks that were being held and brokered by Mr. Mbeki have broken down by all appearances. This is no surprise to this writer. I have gone on record as saying that the oppressor will never willingly give up power. Mr. Mugabe and his cohorts were never going to wake up one morning and say, "Gee, we've made a mess of things. Let's give someone else a turn!" The talks broke down because the essence of democracy is not for parties to learn how to govern and rule together, but to learn how to oppose one another within the rule of law for the betterment of the people.

I went on record as saying that power-sharing was not the answer in Kenya and it isn't the answer in Zimbabwe. Yes, the violence in Kenya abated when the power-sharing agreement was signed, but is Kenya any better off today? Are they being governed more effectively with a cabinet twice the size of what it was a year ago? Does anyone seriously believe that a power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe will stop the economic free fall while the basic economic principles causing the devastation are ignored?

I went on record as saying that Mr. Mbeki was making a mess of his chance to broker an agreement by being an African first and a leader second. I went on record as saying that Mr. Mugabe would never share power with anyone as long as he is alive.

Do I feel smarter today or vindicated by what I wrote? Absolutely not! How can I be happy when a people, my friends and family, are suffering such hardship? How can I be happy when injustice and perversion of both power and the electoral process has played out for all the world to see, while the perpetrators thumb their proverbial noses at the world, including their African counterparts? So why do I write?

I write because I don't know what else to do. I write because I am angry and I feel like I must, I should, I am obliged to do something, to raise one small, insignificant voice in support of the Zimbabwean people against tyranny. I write because I can, because many of my Zimbabwean friends cannot. I write and pray, the former because I am looking for like-minded people who can tell me that I'm not crazy and who perhaps can do something more than I am doing if they sense the correctness of what I am saying. I pray and appeal to a Higher Power who can overrule the lesser powers that have entrenched themselves in the seat of power.

I also write today because I'm sad, sad to see a great people and country be wrung out and hung out to dry like a wet towel. I write because I don't know what else to do. What is your perspective on the matter? If you have one, write and let me know. In the meantime, please don't define my silence as that of a disinterested party. I watch and pray every day, but I am not hopeful that any relief is in sight and I fear that even worse days are ahead for that once great and prosperous nation. I hope I am wrong.

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