After Mr. Robert Mugabe coming out a few days ago and crying foul over his predicament, let us take a quick learned look at democracy, it's basic principals and its core values from the Zimbabwe case study. For the record I haven't yet got the time to listen to the full interview, but:
1- Wasn't President Robert Mugabe a civilian leader? 2- Wasn't he elected by his political party and more importantly, by the people of Zimbabwe? 3- Was he deposed by the people, an election, or by force? So where are all the so-called "democratic forces" in this case? On the contrary, all those usually claiming to stand for democracy, including the EU, the US, the African Union and most African political activists paid by the west, all summarily abandoned their own much-hyped democratic credentials and started applauding a coup and an unelected leader. I do not know the new leader, therefore I really am not against him personally. But general elections were held in Zimbabwe on 31 July 2013. The incumbent President, Robert Mugabe, was re-elected by the people of Zimbabwe, whilst his ZANU–PF party won a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly. Moreso, another election was already scheduled for this year 2018. So can we now say that the so-called "Democratic forces" have become patently opportunistic in nature whereby they quickly claim to be "fighting for democracy and human rights" as a mere excuse that they use when it suits their need to get power, but summarily dump all decorum when democracy is against their ulterior inner urges? I remember being shocked to read a full public statement issued by a Ugandan opposition party which usually claims to fight for democracy, the rule of law, and respect for constitutionalism, yet here they were supporting military force by armed coup plotters in Zimbabwe against the duely elected leader. Surprisingly, the same party regularly tells Ugandans; "We do not support the use of force to oust Mr. Museveni." So where exactly do such people stand? I once complained how in Uganda they abandoned their quest for free and fair elections in 2015 under the 'No Reforms, No Elections' campaign. Suddenly all of them wanted to be candidates in an election that they themselves had been declaring that it was already completely rigged in advance. I find such politicians to be lucky that nobody is really holding them to account for their glaring, disturbing and telling inconsistencies. Maybe it is because Ugandans do not see any alternative to their current politicians who have become their only hope even if they are going nowhere. Rigged polls is dictatorship. A dictatorship that is trying to put on some lipstick, Brazilian weaves, and fake butt implants. And no matter how comfortable we individually feel with the new Zimbabwe regime, if we look closely, it is also what it actually is: Illegitimate. The struggle against tolerating all kinds of blatant opportunistic acts of political mediocrity, that struggle is clearly still ahead of us Africans, all political affiliations inclusive. In regards to Mr. Robert Mugabe, even if many have been brainwashed to mock or disrespect him, we should have all respected the constitutional provisions that he was an elected president, and the civilized way to change leaders was to simply wait for the people of Zimbabwe to express themselves in a free and fair manner in the upcoming 2018 polls. This discussion should not be sidelined for political expediency. The questions raised are at the heart of what kind of solid institution building, meaningful constitutionalism, and political stability we are able to establish for the future anywhere in Africa. So now Mr. Mugabe is being told that if he is not happy, he should go to the courts. Let me state that this is exactly what he, or any concerned Zimbabwean citizen should immediately do. Establish the dignity and legitimacy of their institutions through justice and legal redress. We want to uphold the rule of law, right? Hussein Lumumba Amin Kampala, Uganda 19/03/2018
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