generalspeaking

Responsibility

Responsibility, it's totally absent in so many countries of the world, at the level of governance. At various levels of failure.

Some of which can be shoulder-shrugged, others just simply so bitterly vicious that the failures cannot be countenanced by human decency. Which is precisely why the United Nations, that great world body constructed to advance peace in the world felt compelled to undertake a motion that spoke of "The Responsibility to Protect" in instances where a national government behaved in a manner completely inimical to the human interests of its population.

It was a well-intended and no doubt heartfelt observation on the part of advanced, civilized nations to announce their unease with the obvious presence on the world stage of heartless totalitarian governments whose elite were more engrossed in enhancing their personal wealth prospects than administering the affairs of their country in a manner that might advance living prospects for their populations.

Burma is one such country, Sudan and Somalia others, Ethiopia yet another, and North Korea, with Zimbabwe exemplifying criminal neglect of its people. Yet although the UN has attempted repeatedly to intervene in Sudan, its attempts have been spurned; it has been unable to mount a 'Responsibility to Protect' mission, because in the real world most countries are unwilling to mount an offensive against another's regime, however criminal.

Despite ongoing UN censure, despite that most of Zimbabwe's neighbours - themselves not quite representative of human-rights-supporting regimes - having censured the blatant excesses in Robert Mugabe's governing methods, and despite the very active diplomatic efforts undertaken by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, Zimbabwe remains in Mugabe's deadly thrall.

Agreements for power-sharing with Morgan Tsvangerai have been abandoned, as Mugabe appoints his own people to key government posts. The power-sharing deal brokered by Mr. Mbeki has gone the way of all of Mugabe's promises.

Robert Mugabe set the stage for national economic and social-services collapse when he wrested ownership of large productive farm operations from the hands of white Zimbabweans, to place them in the custody of his 'veteran' fighters. In the process putting thousands of black Zimbabweans out of work as farm hands, and ensuring that the vast productive farms would lie fallow, producing nothing. Their current owners have no knowledge, no interest in farming.

From a once-wealthy country that was able to feed its people, and export food to other countries for profit, the country is now in the deadly grip of explosive inflation and endemic poverty. There are no everyday commodities to be found on store shelves. Companies that once produced products that Zimbabweans needed in their everyday lives, have now shut down production; imports of staples like flour have been halted. The country is completely beggared.

Somehow, there is still money available for President Mugabe and his cronies to live well, to be able to buy the latest electronic devices, high-priced vehicles and imported food. That Mr. Mugabe's Zanu-PF lost control of the country's parliament in the March election to Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC party is an irrelevant triviality. As a result of Mr. Mugabe's intransigent hold on power and continued inhumane reign, there is no employment, there is no hope.

There is nowhere that people, wishing to plant seeds for future harvests to feed themselves and others, even in the most subsistence attempts, can procure seeds to enable them to do even that. President Mugabe, convinced that international aid agencies have an agenda to somehow arrange his departure from power, controls who they may aid, and where they may take their life-sustaining aid to. The entire country, with the exception of a small elite group, is on the verge of extinction.

Severe malnutrition has evolved to stark starvation, embracing the bulk of the population. It's been estimated that five million people are on the brink of starvation. Most of the country's children no longer attend school, shortage of potable water has led to cholera. Food reserves are non-existent. And the diseases linked to unappeased hunger, like kwashiorkor, marasmus and pellagra - diseases unknown in the rest of the world - are ravishing infants, the young, adults alike.

"Half of the admissions end up in the mortuary", according to one overworked utterly disheartened doctor, as emaciated children die at home, in hospitals unable to treat them, incapable of providing them with life-sustaining food, for there is none to be had. "In hospital we cannot feed them. At least at home they can scrounge for things. We only keep those that we can see won't make it at home. We have lost the battle before we have fought it."

People are helpless to help themselves. There is no succour anywhere to be had. They are very well aware that their government will take action against them should they speak too loudly of their travails. Most doctors too are informed they must not speak publicly. "We are not allowed to appeal to donor organizations. It's terrible because so often help is so close, but we can do nothing about it."

There are certain sectors who are offered government help, however. The country's central bank recently spent $5-million on imported cars as gifts for the country's specialist doctors. "The situation can be salvaged if aid agencies are allowed to distribute food. But the trouble is Mugabe and Zanu-PF who think 'so what if people starve?'", said one doctor quietly.

The world's conscience, pricked on occasion by the genocidal agenda in Sudan, but resulting ultimately in no useful assistance to Darfurians, remains as transfixed by helplessness to act to help the abandoned people of Zimbabwe.

Labels: Political Realities, World Crises

posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, October 14, 2008