Right Ways, Wrong Ways

Paul Wolfowitz has an interesting column regarding the situation in Zimbabwe, and makes some suggestions as to how the international community can solve the problem. Some of them are sensible solutions, but some of the leave a few things to be desired.

The international community should commit – as publicly and urgently as possible – to provide substantial support if Mugabe relinquishes power. Even if Mr. Tsvangirai were to become president tomorrow he would still face a daunting set of problems: restoring an economy in which hyperinflation has effectively destroyed the currency and unemployment is a staggering 70%; getting emergency food aid to millions who are at risk of starvation and disease; promoting reconciliation after the terrible violence; and undoing Mugabe's damaging policies, without engendering a violent backlash.

Clearly I don't think this has to be a concern. The international community, usually led by the United States, will come through with emergency aid in the form of food, water, and medicine to the people of Zimbabwe. The Mugabe land reforms crippled the nation's food supply, and Mugabe's strict control of the Government already limits the availability of food for the majority of Zimbabwe's populace.

The international community should also say it will move rapidly to remove the burden of debts accumulated by the Mugabe regime and not force a new government to spend many months and precious human resources on the issue (as Liberia was forced to do to deal with the debts of Samuel Doe).

I generally do not believe in debt forgiveness between nations, due to the fact that it encourages governments to continue to borrow and overspend with the assumption that the debts will later be forgiven by the world community. I think given the 28-years of tyrannical rule by Mugabe' Communist Government, we can make an exception.

Most importantly, dramatic action by the international community could embolden other Africans to confront the tragedy in their backyard. One step would be to offer Mugabe an honorable way out. South Africa or some other country should offer Mugabe a safe and comfortable retirement if he leaves without further violence.

Those who have suffered personally at his hands may feel that this would deprive them of justice. But this is a time when a compromise needs to be struck between the need for justice and the need to stop further violence. South Africa itself, under Nelson Mandela's leadership, once set an example for the world in this regard. Today it could help Zimbabweans develop their own process of "Truth and Reconciliation."

I also couldn't disagree more with Wolfowitz in this manner. While the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa may have done the job in bringing South Africa together, it still didn't punish the members of the National Party governments that carried out the hellish policies of Apartheid. And that is to say nothing of the justice that was brought to Saddam Hussein and other dictators toppled over the years. Why should Mugabe be allowed to escape the same fate that Hussein received?

Ideally a non-Western institution, such as the African Development Bank, could take the lead in summoning a Friends of Zimbabwe conference. Hopefully, the wealthy oil-producing countries would participate. So too could China and India, successful developing countries that have shown a new interest in Africa.

And again, Wolfowitz has a well meaning idea that can easily be refuted by reality. While I agree with the need to have Zimbabwe rebuilding efforts led by a non-Western power, I certainly think that we need to do all we can to ensure that China does not take the lead in any efforts in that nation. China's already weak domestic human rights record is even worse when you consider Chinese efforts to support the Sudanese Government despite the atrocities of the Darfur Crisis, and Beijing's insistence on selling arms to the Mugabe Government. China has been cultivating relationships in Sub-Saharan Africa as a way to expand their arms market, regardless of the human rights violations they bring with them. We do not need to set up Zimbabwe as another client state for them.

Wolfowitz, though not all of his suggestions are logical, is correct in that we need to take an active role in preparing for a post-Mugabe Government. I, for one, feel like the international community needs to take more of an active role in creating the post-Mugabe environment...