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In the Heat of the Battle
I can just imagine what it must have been like to participate in one of
those
famous battles in medieval times in Europe. On the ground it must have been
quite something - thousands of individual contests of strength and stamina.
From a distance and perhaps on a nearby hill or vantage point, the situation
would look equally confused as the battle raged back and forth.
Long before the outcome was apparent to those in the thick of the fighting,
it
would become clear to the watchers from afar that the tide had turned one
way
or another. Right now it is like that in the fight for democracy and freedom
in
Zimbabwe. Those on the ground, struggling with the individual contests that
make
up such battles, have no clear idea of just what is happening overall.
Further
away it seems that a key turning point has been reached - one, which may
well
yet determine the final outcome.
Since Morgan announced that he would withdraw from the run off scheduled for
this coming Friday, we have seen a rapid coalescing of global opinion
leading
to the historic decision on Monday night when the UN Secretary General
declared
the Zimbabwe crisis a threat to world peace and security. The UN Security
Council then went on to decide on a unanimous basis, that the recent
behavior
of the Mugabe regime should be condemned in the strongest terms and the vote
on
the 27th June declared null and void.
Although the Zimbabwe Ambassador to the UN brushed this decision aside, his
face
in the debate said it all - he was shamed and humiliated. The Chairman of
SADC, the President of Zambia, then called a press conference and stated
that
he was disappointed in the mediation of Thabo Mbeki on the Zimbabwe crisis,
that the crisis had to be addressed by the regional community and he
intended
to act on the matter independently of Mr. Mbeki whom he claimed was not
responding to his calls. That is exactly what has now happened with the SADC
meeting today in Swaziland without Mr. Mbeki who was simply not invited.
Today the press - always looking for another dramatic twist to the story to
keep the issue in the limelight, is pressing the UN and the major powers to
say
whether or not they will back military intervention. In fact this is a red
herring, as military intervention never was a possibility and in any event
is
not needed. The region itself knows full well that Zimbabwe, a landlocked
State, is very vulnerable to any form of regional blockade. This was clearly
demonstrated with the recent arms shipment from China. An arms blockade and
restrictions on fuel and electrical energy would quickly deny the Zimbabwe
regime with those things they must have to maintain their effort on the
battlefield.
Next week the African Union meets and Zimbabwe will be on the agenda. Given
the
strength of the feelings at the UN and the international media attention, it
is
likely that in both the SADC and the AU we will see, for the first time not
only
strong criticism of the Zimbabwe leadership but agreement on certain
actions.
The UN will almost certainly follow up with additional sanctions and an arms
embargo now seems likely.
While these global events are taking place the struggle continues on the
ground
with individuals and groups engaged in what is virtually hand to hand
fighting.
The weapons are diverse - the Internet, a hand held camera, clandestine
visits
by the international media to report the truth, courage and determination by
thousands of individuals who are at the receiving end of a brutal and savage
regime.
To those on the ground we need to say - hold firm, do not quit! We are
winning
and the tide has turned. If you can continue a bit longer, help is on the
way
and the regime will soon be defeated and flee the field of battle. At the
same
time take care and stand back to back when you can - protect each other and
affect a strategic retreat when required before going back into the battle.
I have no doubt that the Mugabe regime will win some local contests - but
overall they are now losing this war. It is now just a question of staying
power and we will not quit until this battle is won.
We plan to go back to Zimbabwe shortly. My health has improved and I must
get
back to my constituency and home. Many have said stay out for a bit longer
but
I really cannot wait to get back into the fight on the ground. Thank you to
all
those who made this short trip to South Africa possible and who helped us
pay
for the procedure in Pretoria. I am still not out of the woods but the
specialists here want to see me again in three months time to decide if the
second and more dangerous procedure is needed.
How to cope with inflation at millions of percent and a currency in freefall
is
difficult and I have simply no idea what to do in the business, let alone my
constituency. I hear food is very short and that many are simply not
surviving.
They also say that our Party structures are in disarray and many in hiding.
Still that is all part of the struggle. There are so many courageous and
special people there that I simply cannot wait to get back.
When the final collapse of the regime comes it will be fast and
comprehensive. I
can still vividly remember the collapse of the East German regime and the
collapse of the Soviet empire. Who would have thought that those regimes -
far more powerful that the pathetic regime in Harare would end their
infamous
run in such a way? 6 months before the President of Rumania was executed by
his
own soldiers, he was granted the freedom of the City of Harare by Mugabe! My
own
son was denied a visa to visit Berlin in 1989 and when he was there a few
weeks
later, he witnessed the fall of the wall and was able to walk though under
the
watching eyes of East German border guards.
So lets keep faith with the future, stay strong and determine to fight on
until
we finally see the regime flee the field of battle in disarray. What we are
fighting for is right and the outcome will determine the future of the
entire
region. Our final victory will also encourage all those who are engaged in
similar struggles with evil autocratic regimes that resist change.
Eddie Cross
Johannesburg, 25th June 2008
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