Mugabe Speaks Out (finally)

 – Howard Feldman

What a relief the BDS and other critics of Israel must be feeling right now. What a fantastic victory they have won. Robert Mugabe has publicly weighed in with his support for sanctions against Israel. It’s true. At a recent SADC meeting held at Victoria Falls, he was clear in his criticism of those who “claim to be defenders of democracy”. In his speech he condemns the Israeli offensive on Gaza. Finally, someone with integrity speaks out. We can all breath a collective sigh of relief and need to ponder the conflict no longer. A voice of reason in all this insanity.

The Middle East Monitor (MEM), which by the way is “creating new perspectives” (whatever that means, as there seems very little new about their perspective in my view), reported this memorable statement which must have the anti –us people feeling very proud. Who else would you want in your corner to defend the rights of the disenfranchised other than Mr. Mugabe himself, with his fantastic and impressive human rights record? It’s rumored that there even was a “free and fair election” at some point in Zimbabwe’s electoral history but no one seems to be able to confirm that. At least no one worth listening to.

I have heard stories that at some point people weren’t beaten for criticizing his government and that food wasn’t used as a weapon, that freedom of the press was endorsed and that critics weren’t jailed without trial, but again this is unconfirmed.  Mr. Mugabe is upset by the “The continued butchering of innocent woman and children”, (perhaps because he thinks its his sole right to do so?) but that is just speculation. After all, this is the man who has managed single handedly to turn the “breadbasket of Africa” into a famine filled fiasco.

“What is going on now is the most brutal demonstration of man’s inhumanity to man and is criminal for the world to keep silent in the wake of such crimes against humanity”, says Mugabe.  I kid you not – it’s actually not possible to make this stuff up. He said that. He said that to the SADC, and I suspect that he even meant it. I mean, why else would he say it?

I guess the question that follows must be this. Why would a man with his status, who is fighting so many very difficult issues at home, who is the pariah of most of the democratic world, (aside from Southern Africa) leap to the plight of the Palestinians and not those of his own continent not so far North as the crow flies (if it isn’t eaten along with everything else as it flies over Zimbabwe)?  Could it be that Gaza is far enough from home that he won’t fall out with anyone he cares about, that he is an anti- us (I actually don’t think so), or is he simply looking to secure his own personal interests and gain support from those who read that magnificent publication?  (Judging by the support in the comments following the article, it’s a fairly narrow range).

Either way, I believe that he should become the poster child for the BDS and the Jews for a Something Palestine (I can never really remember what they call themselves). They should rally around him and hoist him up high on their shoulders and celebrate his support of the cause. They should listen carefully to his wisdom and they should not be shy to claim him as their own. After all, birds of a feather…