A LETTER FROM THE DIASPORA !

Saturday 14th April 2007

Dear Friends,

The South African papers over the Easter weekend were full of comment and analysis of how Thabo Mbeki was going to tackle the problem of Zimbabwe and what particular hurdles he might face in dealing with Mugabe. It was pretty much agreed that it was not going to be easy for the South African President to influence Robert Mugabe. Demonising him as just another crazed African dictator is not helpful; the truth is that Mugabe is a complex and enigmatic character who inspires both fear and respect. It is sometimes hard to remember when one hears the claims of near-deity from some of his followers, that Mugabe is human with ordinary human as well as political problems. Reports that Mugabe had flown off to Malaysia to spend Easter with Grace and the children combined with a piece in the British tabloid The Sun that the trip was intended 'to rescue his marriage' set me thinking. Then, last week's Zimbabwean carried a story which suggested that Grace had been out of Zimbabwe since the middle of March, supposedly on a business trip. According to usually 'reliable' sources, Grace had gone off in a huff after a disagreement with her husband over the country's political situation and his stated intention to contest the 2008 election. At first glance it seemed no more than salacious gossip, irrelevant to the current political crisis in the country but the story might have more significance than at first appears. Consider the facts; Grace is Mugabe's second wife, the mother of his children and some forty years younger than her 83 year old husband. Over the years Zimbabweans have consistently dismissed her as unintelligent, greedy and a shopaholic whose only interest is in being First Lady with all the privileges and power that entails. Her public appearances have shown her unsmiling, generally behind large dark glasses and seemingly completely bored with whatever ceremony is taking place. Such is her public persona; if indeed Grace is 'just in it for the money' then it seems curious that she is opposed to her husband staying in office where she can continue to enjoy all the perks that go with his job - despite the occasional boredom. I tried putting myself in Grace's expensive shoes and I think it must be quite an uncomfortable place to be! She must know that her husband is the most feared man in the country, she can't move around freely, her life is not her own and she can never be quite sure that she or her children are safe. 'Well,' you might answer, ' She knew that when she married him'. Ah, but she didn't know then - none of us did - that the country would descend to near bankruptcy, lawlessness and violence. I am certainly not suggesting that Grace deserves our sympathy; what I am saying is that perhaps, her state of mind may have some relevance in the current stalemate. Here's an 83 year old man who has enjoyed absolute power for 27 years. As his wife, Grace has never been loved, by her husband or the people in the way Sally Mugabe was and she must know that. Mugabe's personality, characterised as it is by arrogance and messianic self-delusion, is such that he is never going to admit it's time for him to go. As the wife of the President of a pariah state, Grace has very little to look forward to and maybe that's why she wants him to 'take the gap' now - before it's too late and she is the wife of a convicted war criminal. Will this have any effect on Robert Mugabe? Is it possible that his young wife's opinion will have any sway with him or will his stubborn desire to remain in power for life combined with his fear of prosecution prove stronger than the desire to save his marriage? Whichever way you look at it the truth is that Mugabe is beset with problems – personal and religious. He is a practising Catholic and last weekend the Roman Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter was forthright in its condemnation of the violence being meted out on the opposition. Mugabe's ministers may deny that the violence is happening – Kemba Mohadi's recent interview on SW Radio was yet another laughable example of ministerial idiocy - and Mugabe himself may claim that the onslaught is justified because the opposition are no better than terrorists. But when even his wife and his Church are acutely uncomfortable with his behaviour, perhaps the old man will be forced to listen before it's too late?

Miracles do happen!More later.

Ndini shamwari yenyu. PH