No matter what the Herald might say, no matter how the tin-pot generals might snigger the fact of the matter is that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais warm reception in the world corridors of power has given Zimbabweans a reason to hold their heads high once more. (Pictured: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai)
After more than a decade of shame, as members of a pariah state with a stereotypical African dictator, thieving and murderous, running the show as his personal fiefdom, Tsvangirai has made us proud again. His fireside chat in the Oval Office with the worlds most popular and most powerful leader, President Barack Obama, is a diplomatic
coup of great significance.
Tsvangirai is only the second African leader to be accorded this honour since Obama came to power. The US Presidents fulsome words of praise for the Zimbabwean leaders democratic credentials have been reported world-wide as indeed is the case with everything the charismatic Obama says. Except in the Herald of course which
has made an utter fool of itself by ignoring the enormous diplomatic benefits of Tsvangirais trip.
For the record, Obama said: I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and the tenacity that the Prime Minister has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe Im grateful to him for his leadership, for his courage, and Im looking forward to being a partner with him in the years
to come.
On the third leg of his trip, Tsvangirai was welcomed by German chancellor, Angela Merkel, with full military honours, massed bands playing, and a salute by real generals.
For those of us old enough to remember the early days, Tsvangirais international welcome brought a sense of dj vu. This is what it was like in the 1980s when Prime Minister Robert Mugabe was feted on the world stage for his statesmanship and his policy of reconciliation following the war of liberation. World leaders praised his administrations strides in education and health, as well as his commitment to democratic and non-racial principles. Where, oh where, did it all go so terribly wrong?
We salute the western powers for making such a clear distinction between the democratic forces within the government and the antireformist Zanu (PF) die-hards. Until Mugabe embraces the return to democracy and the rule of law, we urge them to continue to find ways of circumventing the Reserve Bank and the Zanu (PF) gravy train.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga