Herein in this story is a tragedy for Zimbabweans. For Mugabe, the tragedy is not of his making; rather, what is unfolding is a comedy created through the European manipulation of the decolonization process and their reluctance to share the (African looted) wealth with the colonized Africans. Operating within the framework constructed as Black Skin/ White Mask a la Frantz Fanon, the colonizers were willing to hand over political power without making any real concessions for the transfer of land to the poor Africans. Caught in this mess, Mugabe seems to be telling himself and his supporters that what is tragedy to all is slapstick for the perpetrators of the pain that crippled his people. What is happening to him is seen as the joke of a mad potentate who not longer knows the wishes of his people and is a fool to power and the Devil. Not so, Mugabe and his advocates would argue. What is sad though is that this political misfortune in Zimbabwe is not dealt with compassionately through the application of justice.

My question then is that why those who suffer against settler colonialism should be made fools to land-hungry Europeans who are unwilling to make sacrifices and are indifferent to the implementation of promises made for land transfer. Or is there any justification for millions of Zimbabweans to be in political chains under Mugabe?

The critical concern here is the future of Mugabe and the fate of the Zimbabwean state, Convinced that Mugabe is now a mad man unwilling to surrender power to a person chosen by his country’s electorate, his opponents are now persuaded that this once much-admired leader represents the old French imperial claim by the king that he was the state. Confusing himself with the state of Zimbabwe, Mugabe travels on the fatal path taken by earlier African dictators. To his critics, it is a comedy of the fool who refuses to play by the rules that brought him to power. They are likely to ask why Mugabe the underdog against settler colonialism is now forgetful of the pains and woes of the suffering Zimbabweans. To them, Mugabe is riding a tiger he dares not dismount, as Winston  Churchill once said. He is on top of the political animal and neither comedy nor tragedy matters. What matters is his political survival; anything else against his will to hold unto power does not count.

This political mathematics is something that bothers me. Many of us once loved Mugabe, but we are certainly disturbed because of his failure to realize that an idea is greater than the man. Where ideas are paramount, no man is important. This is a classical statement and it applied very much to Mugabe. If he is serious about the future and destiny of his people, it makes sense for him to pay close attention to the train he is driving. No single person can carry the vehicle to the final destination of economic development and political success. History should tell him that his future could have been greatly enhanced if he allows power to be carried on by others who are equally committed to the cause he risked his life for and shed some blood. Taking the presidency as his natural life jacket is folly, not fortitude.

Another painful discourse about the Zimbabwean situation is that the nation is suffering badly from a failed economic kwashiorkor and malnourished and retarded development policies. Once upon a time, this people took pride in their national security and economic weight, but today, the average Zimbabwean has fear and uncertainty of the future as a companion, not because he or she does not know how to make routing Macarena turns like Mugabe, or that he or she is a nincompoop but because the society is caught between the dreams and hopes on the one hand, and fears and vengeance on the other.

Here again, comedy is masquerading as tragedy to the masses when it could have been different without the irony that Mugabe is to them now what Ian Smith was over forty years ago. This state of affairs is the source of lamentations among many Africans and non-Africans. Look at the catastrophe of the African Union meeting in Egypt. The AU spokesman George  Charamba told reporters that Mugabe should not follow external influence; rather, he should follow the will of the Zimbabwean people. Yea right, as if the people did not express their wills through their ballots.  It is a comedy when one looks at it through the eyes of the dominated and exploited African masses for which elections often do not mean a thing. Except for the Senegalese President Abdoulaye  Wade, who spoke to Mugabe with dignity and forcefulness, calling on him to back off his unpopular action, there is yet to emerge an African action.

It is very disturbing to the point that one wonders whether African leaders have crossed through the river of fools. We hope and pray that the Zimbabweans would eventually break away from this huge historical chain, God has his ways and no dictator can outwit him indefinitely. He can always pull the plug. President Robert  Mugabe will not be an exception.

While Zimbabweans are waiting for the coming of their Moses to lead them out of their political limbo,   Mugabe should know that any act of self- deification is fatal; and power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is why the Great Search for a successor to Mugabe is still valid. It is only a matter of time before it happens. Other dictators have come and gone. Mugabe cannot defy this historical wheel of change.  For this reason I urge the President to look at his record of success and make the much needed assessment to salve the shrinking treasures of his labors and sacrifices. He should start with what he knows and build on what he has.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 19.07.2008 01:52

aguabata  Villager

# 2 you tend to be more emotional than objective, everybody accepts Mugabe has gone tyrannical, there is an article on this NVS on Mugabe I'm sure you didnt read it completely(it was long) Again dont get carried away by western media. Have you wondered why the opposition do not have the numbers to fight back the Zanu PF thugs, the answer is that their is only a handfull that are core anti-Zanu PF and are willing to die for 'freedom', the rest simply oppose Mugabe because they are hungry and across the borders are countries that could be compared to european economies, Imagine if South Africa has a border with Nigeria. so far 110 people have been killed by ZANU PF, how many people died in Nigerian election violence? Is Mugabe as Tyrannical as the media tries to paint him? Can you compare Mugabe's wealth with that of Ibori? So far their is no property in his name anywhere in the west, only speculations he has accounts in the carribeans.I saw his so called mansion in Zimbabwe and smiled, they should come and see my local govt chairman's house, Mugabe has an element of tyranny blown out of proportion by western media and mediation. even as we fight against the *****ic leadership we have in the whole of Africa, africans should have at the back of their minds that the west's foreign policy thrust is not a charity, they are protecting their interests. Posted by aguabata| 19.07.2008 04:03

bobokite  Villager

# 3 Mugabe’s greatest undoing is that for 28years or thereabout as president of Zimbabwe, he failed to groom a successor. If his ZANU-PF party has presented a Mugabe Stooge for the elections and declared him Winner, I don’t think there will be much fuss. _________________________ _________________________ =aguabata;4295072265> I saw his so called mansion in Zimbabwe and smiled, they should come and see my local govt chairman's house, this guy you are funny. So your LG chairman’s house is far much better than Mugabe’s mansion? LOL!!:lol: Posted by bobokite| 19.07.2008 09:13

Agidimolaja  Villager

# 4 Thanks Aguabata, you said it so well. Posted by Agidimolaja| 19.07.2008 22:38