Yesterday, the University of Massachusetts gave Zimbabwe ruler Robert Mugabe a pretty good rebuke; this is the same university which awarded him a honorary degree in 1986. At the time, they cited him as "...a 'humane revolutionary' who ended an oppressive white rule to establish an independent Zimbabwe in 1979."
True, back in the day, he was a humane revolutionary who did the obvious: ended a racist regime of sorts which the British brought into being at the start of the 20th century. But this is where the university board gets downright honest about Mugabe in the present day:
He has been "...scorned worldwide as a tyrannical dictator whose rule has been marked by intimidation, violence, fraud, and robbery." (And he's committed all of the above offenses!!)
But there's more to be said in the u-board's statement, citing "...his actions of seizing land from white commercial farmers and giving it to allies, while using the secret police to beat or kill opponents...His actions have prompted observations of his having degenerated as a political leader and as a human being and allowing in Zimbabwe the near disintegration of health, education, and other public services, and the worst inflation in the world..."
UMass, recognizing the monster Mugabe has developed into, picked the right time to condemn him for every action & monstrosity he's committed over the past 27 years or so. Practicing racism in reverse (taking land & job ops among other things from whites), Mugabe has put Zimbabwe in a worst predicament than his predecessor Ian Smith ever would have envisioned. To even think of criticizing Mugabe for the state of affairs economically & politically is to declare oneself persona non grata in his eyes (i.e. This means you're no longer welcome in the nation of Zimbabwe for all this beef you have against Robert Mugabe). Serves Mugabe right for sending his nation beyond rock bottom. He was a "humane revolutionary" back when he officially ended British colonial rule; not anymore. If there were words to best describe him now, he would be an "inhumane recalcitrant."
Other folks right here in the States should take note of what UMass did if they've checked up on their world news lately. And if they've checked up on what's been happening in southern Africa, especially in Zimbabwe, they too should be speaking a piece of their mind about Robert Mugabe in hopes of one day ending his iron-clad reign. Good call for UMass' university board for saying what they said; let's hope more along their lines do the same.
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