Would someone please invite the UN to the party

In a few short days Robert Mugabe will run unopposed in a farcical run-off election. His main opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, has spent the last few days in the Zimbabwean Dutch embassy. Although it is said that he is not claiming sanctuary, he arrived there shortly after announcing that he would not be participating in the election. Tsvangirai felt that it was not only pointless but also impossible for there to be a free and fair election against a government that has embarked on a campaign of intimidation and violence against its detractors.

The only campaign rally the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were officially allowed to hold was interrupted by Zanu-PF supporters who were allegedly bussed in on Zimbabwean military vehicles. Tsvangirai claims the MDC has been barred from entering rural areas and from using their own election observers. Despite having no opposition the run-off will take place as planned.

Many international governments as well as the UN security council have condemned the climate of violence that has taken over Zimbabwe. It’s a pity that no one saw this coming or we could be seeing a very different Zimbabwe today. Nobody would have been able to predict back in 2000 Robert Mugabe would be a power hungry tyrant you would do anything to cling to power. Except that little incident of a rigged 2001 national election might have given a clue.

If the international community had reacted back then with condemnation and economic sanctions Mugabe might have been forced, at least, to adopt a government of national unity. If that had happened then perhaps the slow-motion plane crash that is the Zimbabwean economy would have been avoided. But there is no point in “what ifs now,” what is important is that the global community acts in unity against Mugabe.

It should now be unarguably clear that Mugabe is a tyrant who will do anything to cling to power. He is no more the rightful ruler of Zimbabwe then I live in a giant chocolate factory with an army of Oompa Loompa’s at my command. He should be condemned and the topic should move to how can he be deposed so that the people of Zimbabwe can once again have a say in their future.

The South African government, more specifically Thabo Mbeki, were given the task of aiding Zimbabwe’s transformation into a democratic state. The results have been less then what was hoped. Mbeki continued to punt his quiet diplomacy tactic, much like trying to build a sand castle with a sieve, despite evidence that the man he supports is a brutal dictator. But he is just a man idling through the last few months of his term and watching a legacy come down in flames. And finally the SA government has been forced by circumstances to admit that their is a massive problem in Zimbabwe.

There is a refugee crisis going on in South Africa, we have refugees streaming in from many Southern African states. By far the largest refugee population comes from Zimbabwe. The policy followed has been on of capture and deportation. I believe this is a limited, negative and useless policy. All that happens is people try again and again to get into a relatively prosperous African country.

Its time to realise that the refugee problem is not going to go away and the current methods of dealing with it probably contributed to the rampant xenophobic violence that recently swept South Africa. I’m not saying that it is the only cause, but it definitely played a factor in the way foreign nationals are regarded in this country.

There is a difference between migrant labourers and refugees but my money is on an ever-increasing flow of refugees, particularly in light of further violence in Zimbabwe.

I think its time to stop trying to kick out the refugees. Rather open the gates, open proper refugee camps operated by the UN. Let’s be able to properly document and process the people who can no longer live a free life in their own country. This is the only solution that makes sense. If South Africa is not going to help the people of Zimbabwe by trying to get rid of their power-mad ruler; can’t we at least offer them some measure of sanctuary.

The return

About three weeks ago I woke up feeling slightly off. By slightly off I mean that I had a headache from hell, congestion and nausea. I dragged myself to work and was kindly sent home by my boss.

I rested at home, overloaded on vitamin’s and waited to get better – I didn’t. Eventually I was forced to admit my stubborn – anti-doctor – approach had failed. I visited medi-clinic and was put on a course of Anti-biotics. I still didn’t get better. I went back and was put on another course of anti-biotics. Around this point I started to lose some hearing in my right ear. Fantastic! Ok, so it wasn’t so much loss as a constant feeling of being stuffed. Exactly like when you are traveling by air. It did make my overall hearing blunted.

So at this point I got a little worried.

I am generally a very healthy person, despite being a smoker, and don’t usually get sick for longer then two or three days at the most. It wasn’t so much the headaches – which were very painful – as the complete and utter lack of strength in my body. Maybe I was just being a hypochondriac, or as my girlfriend terms it, a “whiny little bitch,” either way I wasn’t happy. I dragged myself to work a few times but found it almost impossible to concentrate.

My work was very understanding through the whole affair. More understanding then I probably deserved considering the short time I have spent with them. I felt extremely guilty about missing work and being generally useless but they never made me feel bad about it.

So how did I get sorted out and what the hell was wrong with me? Basically a very nasty virus. A bad, evil little thing that crept inside of me and mined my bodies resources. The loss of hearing came from a “stunned nerve” in my middle ear; it’s not serious but could still take anything from a few weeks to a few months for it to be completely normal.

Despite visiting a doctor twice and taking a bucket-load of medication I was ‘cured’ by a another doctor. He quickly examined me, stuck me on a course of anti-viral’s and cortisone and explained very simply what was wrong with me. Within in three or four days I feel a hundred times stronger, the headaches are gone and my hearing is returning.

The point I want to make from all this is that South African doctors are far too liberal with the prescribing of antibiotics (and other medications). There is a feeling of “oh well, I’m not exactly sure what’s wrong. Let’s see if a course of antibiotics sorts it out.” This can turn out to be a waste of money and time. Not to mention usual side-effects that come with such a course.

I am not advocating any kind of mistrust in doctors – it is important to trust and respect medical professionals – but it is also important to have an understanding of whether you are just being given medication to see if it sorts you out. The immune system is an incredible thing and will often fight back if given enough time and rest. However, don’t be like me and wait too long to go to a doctor from belief in an invincible immune system and then waste time and money on useless medication.