Children's Web Magazine
Human Rights in Africa
In December the European Union/Africa Summit was held in Lisbon. It again brought attention to the problems in Zimbabwe and the Sudan as well as human rights abuses in other countries.
I lived in Zambia which is the country next to Zimbabwe before and after Zimbabwe got it's independence in 1980. Then it seemed a mementos time. But that shining moment has been extinguished. The sad truth is the hope and the light that Mugabe was meant to bring didn't come. Instead he brought terror, starvation, corruption, torture and abuse. As a result the country has suffered terrible damage.
Any one who criticizes Mugabe and supports the opposition party are beaten and put in prison according to reports. The opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other political opponents were arrested and beaten in March 2007 after a prayer meeting on the Sunday. Mugabe had banned all the political opposition parties from holding meetings and public gatherings.
There is no food in the shops and if there is it's at such a high price and sold in no time. In 2001 those that could would cross the border into Zambia to buy essential items not just food but loo paper as well. Now many that can will buy products on the black market.
A few years ago homes were destroyed in some areas as Mugabe claimed they were run down, dirty and looked untidy. He was cleaning up the cities. Thousands were made homeless. In all of these areas people had voted for the opposition party.
Healthcare is extremely bad as there is no money for medical equipment or medicine. Doctors can't work under such conditions and leave to find a better paid job were they can use their skills fully.
Children and adults are not surprisingly dying of malnutrition, cancer, aids and other illnesses. Some of these are preventable.
Electricity, clean water and food are things we take for granted. But in Zimbabwe they have to put up with power cuts all the time. Water can be contaminated and food you have to find and pay highly for.
It is the people of Zimbabwe that suffer black or white, religious or non - religious, male or female, young or old. The universal declaration of human rights has been signed by many countries and they should abide by this.
Sudan is also a country that is suffering. Darfur is constantly being mentioned in news items. People are starving, being tortured and killed. Just like in Rwanda genocide is happening in Darfur. The actress Mia Farrow has visited Darfur after reading about the terrible goings on there. She has worked to bring it to the intention of the world by working with charities.
Then only last week Kenya normally a peaceful country suffered ethnic violence after a dispute over the recent elections there. Voters have claimed the election was unfair.
Having experienced life in Zambia and visited other countries in Africa. I found the people gentle, happy and kind. Perhaps knowing this and having such a strong connection towards the place it hurts more. It upsets and angers me that this is allowed to happen. I have read terrible stories about Zimbabwe in the newspapers recently.
The leaders of the world and in particular other African countries need to take a stand. As I have quoted before the politician Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) once said "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Some African leaders and others may go on about colonialism but the past is dead we can't change history but the future is in our hands.
© Children's Web Magazine 2008