Obama vs Mugabe

There he was – a young, articulate, intelligent man, with that winsome smile - magnanimously thanking his predecessor, the universally unpopular George W Bush, for his “service to the nation” and holding out the promise of hope, transparency and good governance. He extended the olive branch to everyone – America’s foes and the world’s dictators. He offered to help them all – if they would unclench their fists to receive the open hand of peace and reconciliation.

He denounced no-one in his inaugural address. He threatened no-one. He made no grandiose claims or statements. He told no lies. Instead, he pledged his service to the people of America in pursuit of the common good. He shouted no political slogans. Instead of denouncing and vilifying the opposition party, the Republicans, he promised to work with them and demonstrated his intention to work together by including a number of Republicans in his administration.

One of his first acts after becoming President was to freeze the salaries of all those working in the White House – including himself, of course.He blamed no foreign agents for the economic crisis that holds the United States in its grip, and pledged to work tirelessly to resolve it.

His foreign policy, he proclaimed, would be dedicated to bringing about peace in the world. True to his word, his first day in office was marked by phone calls to the leaders of Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Jordan, and the appointment of a special Middle East envoy tasked with finding a solution to the vexing conflict in that region. Although his security is of prime importance, given the gun-toting lunatic fringe in America, Obama left his cavalcade and walked freely among the crowds along Pennsylvania Avenue.

There was a time when the leader of Zimbabwe was also an articulate, intelligent young man with a winsome smile. He also spoke of change and hope and reconciliation, of turning swords into ploughshares, of non-racism and equality among men.How tragic has been his descent into the advanced corrupt megalomania that has left my country destroyed and millions of my countrymen consigned to an early grave.