Tutu warns on 'ready to kill'
2008-07-01 22:42
Cape Town - The "horrid nightmare" in Zimbabwe showed what happened when people were prepared to kill for their leaders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said on Tuesday.
His comment, during a panel discussion at the University of Cape Town, followed assertions last month by leaders of the African National Congress Youth League and Cosatu that they were ready to kill for ANC president Jacob Zuma.
"We have to remind some in our country that there are those in Zimbabwe who have been ready to kill for Mr Mugabe," said Tutu.
"See what happens.
"They (the South Africans) speak about a revolution. Now, I don't know what that refers to, but whatever it is, that revolution is not going to be sustained and preserved by intemperate, almost inane utterances.
SA 'must succeed'
"That revolution, the dream that is South Africa, the promise that is South Africa, that is going to be preserved when you and I are vigilant, you and I preserve freedom, you and I stand up for justice... you and I say, hey, our people did not shed blood for nothing."
South Africa's experiment in human relations had to succeed not only for the sake of its people, but also for the sake of Africa and the world.
Tutu urged African leaders to confound Afro-pessimists and declare that last week's poll in which incumbent Robert Mugabe was returned as president was illegitimate.
They should insist on negotiations for a transitional government in which the MDC would have "the prominent part".
Academic Wilmot James, another member of the panel, said United Nations peacekeeping troops should be sent to protect the Zimbabwean people against further abuse.
Global responsibility
This was possible under the new international doctrine whereby the global community had a responsibility to protect citizens of countries where the state failed in its own duty to protect them.
This doctrine was developed in direct response to the world's failure to intervene in Rwanda, and the controversial interventions in Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo.
He said he was tired of the "smug arrogance" of the SA government on the Zimbabwe issue.
It was "hugging and coddling a dictator" for reasons that defied rationality".
Businesswoman and former UCT vice chancellor Mamphela Ramphele said the SA government had to shoulder the largest portion of blame for promoting a culture of impunity in Zimbabwe, a culture that had led to the reproduction of the apartheid killing ground Vlakplaas in many places in Zimbabwe.
Too much power for leaders
Zimbabwe and SA had a culture of personalised politics that invested too much power in leaders.
Noting that young South Africans were pledging to kill for Zuma, she asked what kind of democracy could be built on such a foundation.
SA has long gloried in its image as an international wunderkind but "we are now messing up big time in some areas".
The 2009 general election was an opportunity for South Africans to ensure their vote was not taken for granted by any political party.
"The limits of impunity are within our power to set. The question is whether we are prepared to do so before it is too late."
- SAPA