Zimbabwe "makes mockery" of African democracy - Tutu

[struggle4progress]

Sun February 6, 2005 3:46 PM GMT+02:00
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu criticised Zimbabwe for "making a mockery" of African democracy and urged regional leaders to scold contemporaries who fail to foster justice and freedom.

Tutu last year hit out at "kowtowing" in South Africa's ruling ANC party, including over President's Thabo Mbeki's policy of quiet diplomacy toward its neighbour Zimbabwe, sparking a fiery public debate between the two men.

The archbishop told South Africa's Sunday Independent newspaper that Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe was making a mockery of African attempts to improve governance and defend democracy as the continent tries to secure more aid from rich countries.

"We have a responsibility. People should see that we do really care about things like freedom, justice ... the basic freedoms for which we have fought," he was quoted as saying. <snip>

http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:4206a1bd:20ee2a3aee5cec27?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7548804

[henrik larssonisking]

1. about time somebody said it.

[geek tragedy]

2. Tutu's voice is worth about 100 North American or European politicians'

voices.