By every measure that counts, the crisis in Zimbabwe has now rumbled into a climax.
The economy has hit rock bottom, inflation is hovering somewhere in the margin of 2000 percent, the agricultural economy has literally collapsed and shop shelves are empty.
For the first time in his 28 year uninterrupted rule, Mugabe faces serious threat from opposition Movement for Democratic Change in an election run-off, having lost the initial round to MDC’s Morgan Tsvangirai.
In response to all these, Robert Mugabe has unleashed his thugs of militias and security forces to terrorise ordinary people and help him remain in power at all costs.
This should not be allowed to continue any further.
While we have always known that the people of Zimbabwe were suffering untold misery at the hands of the Mugabe regime, it had never appeared to us that the situation had the potential to unfold into the kind of barbarism we have witnessed over the last three weeks.
Mugabe’s regime and its supporters are killing political opponents at unbelievable levels. The high number of killings and the brutality through which the people are dying are scary indeed.
A Presidential run-off election is scheduled in a week’s time.
Given the pace at which people are dying, a week is a very long time indeed.
From the look of things, although international observers are already on the ground in Zimbabwe they too are helpless.
In fact, even if the elections are held, international observers have started to say, given the prevailing circumstances in that country, not even a miracle from God can ensure a free and fair election.
Yet against all these odds, the people of Zimbabwe are showing a breathtaking resolve to go ahead and vote a government of their choice. They need support in that endeavour.
The truth of the matter is that the Zimbabweans have done all the world has asked of them. They have, however, been disappointed by the international community, not least their neighbours in the form of SADC.
Against real risks to their own lives, when asked in the past to go to the polling stations to vote, the people did so even as they knew so well that such risks entailed being at the receiving end of a brutal regime that is literally fighting for its life.
Not once have the people of Zimbabwe gone to the polls only to have the election rigged and their will thrown out of the window by a ruthless and barbaric government.
SADC should have done more for the people of Zimbabwe, but for ten years or so decided to take sides with Robert Mugabe.
Thankfully, there now seems to be a change of tone.
At long last, a growing number of governments are beginning to voice their concerns at Mugabe’s growing repression and inhuman disposition.
Botswana government, under the leadership of President Ian Khama, has started the dice rolling, and there is no going back.
Every government in the region is now under growing pressure to be seen to be on the side of people of Zimbabwe rather than on Mugabe’s side.
The days when government had it easy as to choose easy options out of their problems are behind us.
We firmly stand behind Botswana government in its publicly stated opinion that the people of Zimbabwe should be allowed to go to the polls next week under a free atmosphere.
We urge Botswana government to go a step further by way of a warning to Mugabe that should he continue with his wayward behaviour of saying he will not leave office even if he loses the election, then Botswana government will have no option but to be among the first in the world not to recognize him as a legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.
Mugabe has survived mainly because he enjoyed undeserved legitimacy from his SADC colleagues. Mugabe survived all these years mainly because SADC leaders continued to cushion him when they should have told him to increase democratic space in his country.
Mugabe survived all these years because he could always count on the support of his SADC brothers.
Ian Khama has shown himself as a leader who will not be part of that tradition.
And to that everyone should be grateful.
Ian Khama should continue on the path of standing up to Mugabe for it is the path that the people of SADC have always insisted on even as they were betrayed by their leaders.
