Mugabe’s tantrums

THE OCTOGENARIAN leader of Zimbabwe has his own way of making headlines. President Robert Mugabe, the world’s longest reigning president, unnecessarily vented his anger against Nigeria by calling it the most corrupt country, leading to a demarche and strong diplomatic retaliation from Abuja. “Are we now like Nigeria where you have to reach into your pocket to get anything done?” Mugabe said in the controversial remark. This obviously was enough to elicit strong condemnation from a country, which is ranked more respectable in social index than Zimbabwe. The Berlin-based Transparency International placed Nigeria as 144th out of 175 countries on its Corruption Perceptions Index 2013, while Zimbabwe was ranked 157th.

Mugabe’s diatribe was not only unwarranted but also devoid of logic. The African leader, who is squarely responsible for all the loot and plunder in his country, apart from its pestering political instability, should have done some introspection before playing to the gallery. Moreover, his three decades of rule have sunk the east African country deep into the abyss of poverty and insecurity. Its currency is now the world’s lowest graded and without any value in the region. Last but not the least, his style of iron-fist governance has been of little help even for his supporters, who miss no chance to desert him. Of late, Mugabe acted weirdly when he refused to attend the EU-Africa summit in Brussels, complaining that his wife has not been granted a visa. This is quite unbecoming of an elder statesman like him. His passion to lambast certain nations, including former colonialists Britain, is contemptible. He can do well by working closely with his neighbours and the world at large by formulating an accommodative policy. Mugabe’s foul-mouthing will not serve any purpose.

Zimbabwe’s leader should desist from politics of venom and foul-mouthing