Politics 2.0

OSTRICHES ARE SITTING DUCKS
Mbeki’s denial of crises has defined his Presidency

Thabo Mbeki’s “I am an African” speech at the beginning of his term of office set the bar and aspirations of the nation. 9 years on from that speech, his smooth sophistication and economic idealism has fallen flat on an audience which is calling for his blood rather than an encore. Some have posted him as another leader trying to hang on to power in a Texas shoot-out with his upcoming rival Jacob Zuma. Of course there is a degree of credibility in such an assertion and some similarity with the Democratic presidential caucuses in America can be drawn.

At a time though, Mbeki seemed to be the perfect compromise. He is the visionary behind the African Renaissance, the pioneer of NEPAD and the reviver of the AU. With his clean cut silver beard, he has become the poster-model for African intelligentsia and the rising black-middle class without stepping on the "white man’s feet".

Yet, on the other hand, recent blunders in the entire Zimbabwean crisis – although naming it a crisis would be an understatement- and the failure of South Africa to rise to the challenge again and lead Africa in a united voice against poor governance and corruption, has eroded the very premise of an African Renaissance. But when one looks back even further, his government’s foreign policy, or lack thereof, with regards to Zimbabwe seems to bring about a repetitive and predicable pattern of his entire administration.

Whether it is Zimbabwe’s quiet diplomacy, the denial of HIV as a virus leading to AIDS, the denial of a potential energy crisis, crime and so on, Mbeki seems to have a hear no evil, see no evil policy which has defined his Presidency. He could stick his head in the sand and hope all these problems will go away but by doing so repetitively for so many years, Mbeki’s problems seemed to have hardened into a form called Jacob Zuma. From having his head in the sand for too long, Mbeki now seems to be stuck in the mud, and Zuma has a reaching shot at the Presidency.