I have only been writing about events and the history of Zimbabwe for just short of four years. And in that time I have sustained many attacks by radical readers who have decided that I cannot fight a battle for Zimbabwe from 6000 miles away.

No worse that other web sites that also receive detracting messages that malign those who would also write for peace and democracy.

Having lived in Zimbabwe for thirty four years, I feel I possess the necessary credentials to write constructively and with a degree of knowledge about that country.

I was in senior school when the negotiations began that resulted in the Lancaster House agreement - much of which Mugabe has chosen to ignore or defy.

The main architects of that agreement have moved on in the political world and are in some sort of retirement, but apparently have some sort of say on the world stage still.

Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter, Andrew Young, Henry Kissinger – all participated to some degree of another.

The negotiations were long and protracted. As I wrote in my book, “Without Honour”: “History must show that the only people who kept their word were the Rhodesians. And for their part, they were consigned to the pages of history.”

Now I read that former US President Jimmy Carter is to return to Zimbabwe – in the company of Kofi Annan (former Secretary-General of the UN) to investigate the humanitarian crisis in that country.

The article that announced this intended venture quoted Annan as saying that the junket would not be investigating - or even looking at - the political mess the country is in.

This is probably just as well, as Jimmy Carter did the Zimbabweans no favours by orchestrating the rise to leadership of Mugabe.

I would not be surprised if Mugabe put a stop to the trip - as he would have no part in the exposing of the truth in Zimbabwe. If Mugabe allows the trip to happen, it will be very carefully choreographed by ZANU PF to ensure that Carter and Annan only see what Mugabe will allow them.

And the trip would not be of much value to the people on the ground, because - even if the truth is exposed - any report would be watered down to be acceptable by Mugabe and his cohorts.

He has done it before and will no doubt do it again.

After Operation Murambatsvina, which saw some 700000 people evicted out of their ‘illegal’ homes which were bulldozed (some whilst still occupied and furnished), UN representative Jan Egeland offered some help to the Mugabe regime in the form of UN designed housing - which Mugabe rejected stating that the houses were sub-standard.

His government then built a few houses ostensibly to replace those bulldozed - and then handed them to members of their own party.

Now, some three years after the fact, people still sleep in the open without adequate shelter or accommodation.

Mugabe will deflect any criticism, and will redouble his efforts to disguise the truth on the ground.

Even though Jimmy carter lauded Mugabe and assisted in his attaining the present occupation of office, the Zimbabwean people would do well to remember that Carter was a member of a number of people that virtually forced Mugabe upon the country.

He would, in essence, be returning to the scene of the crime.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man