I think it safe to say that the average woman or man in any bus queue in capital cities right across the continent today, without doubt, sympathises greatly, with their oppressed African brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. And I do hope that that is some consolation, for you.
We are all appalled by the reports reaching us, which indicate that the violence appears to have been ratcheted up, by the thugs at the heart of the Mugabe regime: who are orchestrating moves to deny Zimbabweans the change they so clearly want - and which all Africans also agree they ought to have.
However, the dilemma many Africans face, is that we are also aware of the greedy intentions of the Western powers (themselves beholden to big business and "big money": both with significant interests in Africa's extractive industries!), who are the ones whose economic sanctions have, in the final analysis, ruined your marvellous nation so completely.
And is it not interesting that when it suited them in the past, they refused to impose sanctions on the racists who were enslaving you, because they claimed they wouldn't work? Frankly, your Morgan Tsvangirai, does not inspire much confidence in many of us - although we do hope that he is far smarter than he appears to be, at first sight.
We want a Zimbabwe whose wealth benefits all the people - not just the military generals and the regime's bed-fellows amongst the business elite, as is currently the case.
But we also don't want to see a Zimbabwe in which a tiny white minority owns 80% of the wealth of the country.
And from our vantage point, that is precisely the direction we feel the MDC will unfortunately take your country. They appear to favour the failed neo-con liberal economic policies that over the years, have been forced down the throat of many an African finance minister - and have impoverished millions of ordinary Africans and led to a destruction of the natural environment, in vast swathes of the countryside, across Africa.
We have also seen how our markets have been craftily prised open to allow a flood of foreign carpetbaggers, who collude with local oligarchs to freely transfer vast sums to enrich Western banks and businesses - often even without the payment of any taxes on those transfers!
You must be wary of "big money" from the West - which will buy your political elite: and as sure as day follows night, end up enslaving ordinary black Zimbabweans, yet again.
Do not forget, above all, that the Western nations now supporting your MDC (for their own selfish ends!), are in the meantime busy treating their own black citizens back home, even far worse than Mr. Mugabe and his cronies do to ordinary Zimbabweans - although that cannot, in any way, either be used as an excuse to justify Mugabe's thugs' unspeakable acts of brutality, or ask you to refuse help from well-meaning regimes and organisations in the West!
The harsh truth, however, is that at the end of the day, it is their own strategic interests they seek - not the well being of black Zimbabweans.
So, whiles we pray for you to be rid of those oppressing you today, we also pray that your country and its people are protected from those racist nations, which, even as we speak, still disproportionately imprison their own citizens of colour: because their criminal justice systems have institutional racism underpinning and guiding them.
Do not also forget, that they still allow the continued existence of a culture within their law enforcement agencies, which permits the police to kill their citizens of colour freely - and get away with it!
And, above all, they run a system that is unashamedly racist to the core. Have you heard the obscenities about immigrants coming from the Italian right, lately? The ambassadors' of nations in which racist right wing parties are on the ascendancy are simply being hypocritical, in their so-called "support" for democracy in Zimbabwe.
The plain truth is that their ruling elites who dominate and control the Establishments in their home countries' simply despise Africans: and don't regard us as human beings, or their equals.
That, my brother, is a bald fact - and if you strayed into any country club anywhere in the West by mistake today, because you had lost your way, that unpalatable truth, would be brought swiftly home to you, in the most salutary of fashions!
And for good measure, just take the case of an inspirational and eloquent leader like Barak Obama - a man whom if elected president of America, will literally make the world's perception of the US as an unjust and racist society, change overnight (and how for the better, too!).
It is clear as daylight to the rest of the world (a majority of which consists of people of "colour"), that his election will make it more likely that the US will have better relations with many of the nations that are currently antagonistic towards it - a positive situation that will make US expatriates safe worldwide.
Yet, simply because of his skin colour, many whites will most probably not vote for him: a man with a far superior intellect than the impulsive and bad-tempered John McCain - an old man with one leg literally in his grave: who incredibly proposes to continue with the pointless war in Iraq - in which thousands of young American are dying useless deaths (useless, because eventually, the Iraqis, a proud people with an ancient civilisation, will demand that the US withdraw its troops from their country!).
And do you not ponder why they would rather choose a man unable to understand that the Iraqi war, was, and is, insane: because it is fast sinking the US into debt - their already heavily-indebted nation, having spent nearly two trillions on the war, thus far? Money, that could help renew America's crumbling infrastructure (evidenced by the major highway bridge that suddenly collapsed!) may times over?
Well, hard though it might be to believe, for objective foreign observers free of prejudice, it is the visionary young brilliant black man, whom they will most probably reject in November 2008 - in favour of the "more-of-the-same" irascible elderly white man.
They would rather him than the gifted young man who clearly understands that it is far better to spend those vast sums currently being spent so foolishly on the Iraqi war, at home, instead, to renew the US today, for a better tomorrow for all its people! Crazy - but true, nonetheless. And racism is indeed, truly crazy, my brother!
The truth of the matter is that the average white American, apparently cannot see themselves being ruled by a black man, ever.
Yet, take a sample of the DNA of every single white American today to analyse it - and you will find that for a majority of those with roots going back to the dreadful days of slavery, somewhere in the distant past of their family's genealogy, a white slave-owning ancestor of theirs, was engaging in regular sexual intercourse with a beautiful and attractive female African slave, in his household - who possibly bore him many children!
So how come a nation with a majority of its white citizenry having bloodlines and DNA that can be traced to black African slaves, is so inhumane that it is comfortable about a situation in which, on a daily basis, black citizens face humiliation of one kind or another?
And what kind of human being would feel proud to belong to such a nation: if she or he, were a lifelong victim of its cruel; stupid; limiting and debilitating racial prejudice?
And today white racists seek to crucify Mrs. Obama for sighing in relief that things were changing - and at long last deserving African Americans too, could take their place under God's sun: and be at the table without any snickering from any quarter!
Wherein lies her unpatriotism for speaking the honest truth, about the frustrating existence, which everyday life in America, represents, for hardworking and brilliant people of colour?
And if they were black, would they have been proud of America, before a brilliant black man too, was finally allowed to mount a serious challenge, for the highest office in the land? What hypocrisy!
Why is a nation that says it is proud of its democratic traditions denying a significant proportion of its citizens, who happen to be people of colour, the same inalienable rights, which white Americans regard as God-given rights that they take for granted - but seek to deny others because of the hue of their skin?
And why are a people who never tire of broadcasting their self-righteous indignation over many social issues, unable to recognise that we are all children of one God - and members of one race: the human race?
So my brother, be wary of the Western governments who are today pontificating about democracy and freedom, and talk about principles in their so-called support for the people of Zimbabwe.
Have they shown the same degree of support for the people of Palestine, for example?
Do they not refuse to accept the democratic choice of the people of Palestine: who suffer terribly on a daily basis, as a result of the West's refusal to do business with the Hamas government - a regime elected to power in a free and fair election?
Where is the principle there, I ask? My brother, we either believe in democracy, or we do not - and if we truly have principles, then we cannot pick and choose, which people should enjoy the right be ruled by those they elect to rule them, can we?
So, is what is good for the good people of Zimbabwe, a priori, not good too, for the people of Palestine, who live in Gaza?
And remember too, that for the average black person in America and Europe, the entire state system, and the often-racist law enforcement agencies that are paid to safeguard it, are as oppressive as the terrorist Taliban regime was, in Afghanistan in its day: in their daily tormenting and humiliating of people of colour!
So my brother, keep your eyes widely open. Keep the gains of your independence struggle, and let the Africans of Zimbabwe (and only those white Zimbabweans who are not racists!), take and hold on to the commanding heights of your economy.
Africans must never tolerate white racists on our continent - for, they are an affront to the dignity of the entire black race: and we must root them out of our continent at all costs, come hell or high water! Period.
You must ensure, for the sake of future generations of black and non-racist white Zimbabweans, that the change you effect today, will be a positive one: which does not end up handing your country back to those self-same racists, who enslaved you, and with such cruelty, in the past.
You must always remember that although many ordinary white people in the West may not be racists, their ruling elites and the entire system they operate definitely are - and no matter what you think, they despise you, in reality: and only seek to have access to your country's wealth. Period.
We in the rest of Africa will continue to pray for a free and just Zimbabwe for all its citizens: both black and white (non-racists, i.e.!) - but we caution you to be wary of those of your opposition leaders who do not understand - or refuse to accept - that the Western powers (not to be confused with ordinary Westerners, many of whom are decent and generous-spirited individuals, who care about the plight of their fellow human beings, everywhere in the world!) are no true friends of the black people of the world. Be safe - and stay blessed, brother!
Yours in the service of Africa,
Kofi.
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