Jimmy Carter's 30 Year Conscience?

Just over thirty years ago, Jimmy Carter was one of Mugabe's staunchest supporters and, together with the then Prime Minister of England, Margaret Thatcher, they pulled out all the stops to hand what was then known as Rhodesia to Mugabe. Following a 15 year bloody bush war, Mugabe was 'elected' as Prime Minister to a new, independent Zimbabwe, and since that time Mugabe has worked hand over fist to establish himself as a dictator who helps himself to whatever the country offers, thereby reducing the population to paupers in their own land.

So why, in 2010, should we listen to the likes of Carter?

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The Elders are Martti Ahtisaari (former Finnish President), Koffi Annan (former Secretary-General of the United Nations), Ela Bhatt (founder of Self-Employed Women’s Association), Lakhdar Brahimi (former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General), Gro Bruntland (former Prime Minister of Norway), Fernando H Cardosso (former President of Brazil), Jimmy Carter (former President of America), Graca Machel (renowned international advocate for women's and children's rights, widow of Samora Machel, wife of former South African President, Nelson Mandela), Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland), Desmond Tutu (Anglican priest and Chairman of The Elders), Nelson Mandela (an honorary Elder, former President of South Africa) and Aung San Suu Kyi (an honorary Elder - she is unable to take an active role in the group because of her ongoing detention in Burma/Myanmar, the Elders place an empty chair for her at their meetings).

Nelson Mandela, who brought The Elders together, says: "The Elders can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes. They will reach out to those who most need their help. They will support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair."

I am unsure of the true intentions of "The Elders" and feel that the creation of their council does little to assist the problems facing Africa.

"Former US President Jimmy Carter called Zimbabwe a "tragedy still waiting to be resolved," but cautioned that it would be premature for the country to try to organize new elections until a number of measures have been taken.

Following a meeting in South Africa, the group of Elders voiced their great concern on Monday at the slow pace of implementation of the Global Political Agreement for Zimbabwean power sharing more than a year after the formation of the chronically troubled national unity government in Harare.

Struggle icon and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu said the Elders were disappointed that the Harare political accord underpinning a government including President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF and the Movement for Democratic Change of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has not relieved the country's impoverished masses.

I am a little disgusted that the "Elders" have not spoken out about the obvious intention of Mugabe to remain in power, without sharing anything with the MDC - who won the March 2008 parliamentary election. Couple that together with the obvious reluctance Mugabe has in resolving the impasse in negotiations between his party and the MDC factions, and the world is remiss in suggesting that Mugabe should have anything to do with the solution to Zimbabwe's problems.

"The Elders also said they did not take lightly rumours and threats circulating in South Africa as to a new wave of attacks against immigrants when World Cup of soccer concludes in mid-July.

Formed in 2007, the Elders comprises former heads of state, Nobel Peace Prize recipients and prominent defenders of human rights who seek to support peace-building and reduce human suffering through moral suasion.

Elsewhere in the region, the Southern African Development Community's Namibia-based tribunal will consider an application by a group of Zimbabwean white commercial farmers who are asking it to tell SADC to suspend Zimbabwe for ignoring tribunal rulings holding that Harare’s seizure of white-owned farms was discriminatory and illegal."

If SADC suspends Zimbabwe, then Mugabe will continue along the line that he pursues, and the suspension will not hinder his intention to reject any SADC ruling. Mugabe acts as if Zimbabwe is his, and he does not care a jot about the population or who is watching whilst he continues along in his goal to ruin Zimbabwe completely.

It borders on a 'scorched earth' policy.

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man