MDC Wrong on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Visit to Zimbabwe
The visit by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Zimbabwe should not have been a concern to the MDC had they cared to recognize the fact that the cold war era ended. Iran, like any other state has a right to do business with Zimbabwe like any other state in the world unless the UN advises otherwise. Iran is an important trade partner to so many countries including China, and has important cultural and bilateral significance to any nation in spite of the standoff it is having with the West over her nuclear ambitions and human rights violations.
Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC boycotting of Mahmoud Ahamadinejad visit is tantamount to sucking up to the West and may vindicate Mugabe’s assertion that he is a stooge of the west. He was grossly misadvised on this. The West knows too well that Zimbabwe being an independent sovereign state has a right to choose who to trade and relate with. That Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visit will hamper efforts to lift sanctions by the west is neither here nor there. The sanctions were as a result of oppressions and human rights abuse by the Mugabe regime but were not based on Zimbabwe’s association with the so called axis of evil. The West will lift sanctions when Zimbabwe reverts back to elected democracy. Am waiting to hear MDC and Tsvangirai lauded by their svengali for snubbing Ahmadinejad.
Tsvangirai and MDC failed to notice that modern diplomacy and multilateral ties have to be diversified rather than limited for the best of a nation.
Iran is having trouble with the West over her nuclear ambition which according to them is aimed at making a nuclear bomb but which according to Iran is for peaceful energy purposes. US is pushing for tougher UN sanctions against Iran but China, Russia and even Brazil are refusing to play ball. Has the West cut diplomatic ties with these countries because of this? NO! So, because Zimbabwe is poor, then the West has to dictate her friends? NO, this is a bygone era.
Even if I was the president of any country on earth, I will not treat Iran like a leper. Given it is neighboring a hostile state that is being supported by the West to terrorize her neighbors; I will be the last to deny Iran the right to develop nuclear capabilities to deter Israel from attacking them. I am tired with the West’s double standards. Why allow, abet and even assist Israel to develop nuclear capabilities and deny other Arab states the same?
I have issues with the state of democracy and human rights in Iran but then there is no way we can interfere with the internal affairs of a sovereign state. The much we can do is raise our concern and let progressive Iranians bring the necessary change to their country.
I wonder what informed Morgan Tsvangirai’s boycott of Ahmedinejad visit. Ahmedinejad has even lectured a US university in the near past. And today he is on a visit to Uganda. Kenya, my country that has close ties with the US and UK, has diplomatic ties with this Persian country with a rich culture. And so too many other countries.
Why? The US has trade ties with China yet China has the worst human rights record on earth. China even had the effrontery to ship arms to Zimbabwe as Mugabe and his ZANU-PF thugs butchered MDC supporters in the last general election. Would Tsvangirai and the MDC shun a visit by Hu Jintao , if it was to happen? Africa has to rethink the real meaning of independence. Relationship with any other country in the world, rich or poor, east or west, should be based first and foremost on respect for our independence, sovereignty and right to steer our destiny.
MDC, that was a missed opportunity to show your diplomatic credentials and is a serious misstep!
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