Zulu Dawn

At a time when Zimbabwe, a once beautiful country, descends into chaos, it is hard to understand why the African Union will not condemn Mugabe. But it is because there is a struggle ongoing, a struggle between old Africa and new Africa. There are two types of African state. The one that has overcome colonialisation, overcome occupation by another country meeting invasion with violence, and these are lead by the liberators, men who suffered but stood up to be counted, a group that Mugabe not only belongs to but is, in many ways, the archetype. Then there are the countries that have risen from political development, the democratic states, those for whom Mugabe represents the worst of the continent. It leads to this position where the countries are at opposite poles. Neither can back down because to do so would undermine their entire fabric of being.